This Monday, Major League Soccer announced its 2021 dates for its Preseason and regular-season calendar, to kick off on Saturday, April 3rd, with teams beginning their preseason training on February 22, six weeks prior to MLS is Back opening weekend.
Major League Soccer, entering its 26th season, will feature 34 games for each of the league’s 27th clubs, including expansion side Austin FC and with its conclusion on Decision Day on November 7th, following with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs getting underway on November 19th and culminating with the MLS Cup on Saturday, December 11th.
Major League Soccer will announce the complete season schedule, including a broadcast schedule for the league’s media partners in the U.S. and Canada in the upcoming weeks. The league, in addition to its regular-season matches, the 26th season will include the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Campeones Cup, and Leagues Cup during the late summer.
MLS teams will also participate the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, and Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League for this 2021. Below are the key dates that will kick off the 26th season of this edition of Major League Soccer 2021.
Important Dates
- Feb. 22: MLS Preseason training begins (6 weeks)
- Apr. 3-4: MLS is Back – Opening Weekend 2021
- Late Aug.: MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week
- Late summer: MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup
- Nov. 7: MLS Decision Day
- Nov. 19: Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs begin
- Dec. 11: 2021 MLS Cup
This upcoming season the league will welcome Austin FC making its debut in the Western Conference elevating the number to 13 clubs and for the Eastern Conference with 14 clubs. The health and safety protocol will be in effect for all clubs.
With the MLS health and safety protocol, players will be required to quarantine and conduct individual training upon reporting back to their clubs for the start of the preseason. Similar to the 2020 season, the return of the COVID-19 testing protocols will continue to be a top priority during the preseason and regular season.
The league will continue its work closely with the MLSPA’s infectious disease advisors on health and safety protocols, being the testing one urgent matter. Very well in the regular season all players, technical staff, and essential club staff will continue to be tested every other and clubs taking chartered flights for all road trips until further notice.
Another business the league will address is the restrictions between the US and Canada, as Major League Soccer continues to work with the league three clubs from the north of the border for the 2021 season, and to an announcement will be made before the start of the league.
As talks between Major League Soccer and Major League Players Association, to discuss working together in putting a secure footing in the impact of COVID-19. Very well the league put on their January 5 proposal of paying the players 100% of their salary in return for a two-year extension of the MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement.
With the MLSPA giving a response to the league proposal on January 23 and with no agreement reached, still, both league and players association are hard at work in finalizing an agreement in the coming days.
Source: Major League Soccer
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