Why doesn’t MLS stop during the FIFA international breaks?

Major League Soccer has become one of the most fashionable leagues internationally in recent years. Franchises’ purchasing power is on the rise season by season, and the ‘Messi phenomenon’ has give the league exposure, bringing in a new audience of fans.

However, unlike other international leagues, MLS does not follow the FIFA International Match Calendar. While other major league around the world temporarily stop for the international breaks, the North American competition continues rolling as if nothing was happening. But why?

There are several answers to that question - each with its own reason, but everything is summarized in the calendar established by the competition itself. Unlike South America or Europe, the regular season in the United States usually starts in mid-February. That is why FIFA does not consider MLS as a regular competition due to its model, as it follows the same model as other North American competitions: NFL, NHL and NBA. However, after Messi’s arrival, several members of the league’s technical commission have proposed putting the league on hold so that Lionel Messi does not miss any games with Inter Miami.

Non-stop calendar

The calendar is the big problem in the United States. There are several other soccer tournaments in North American apart from MLS - the Leagues Cup, US Open Cup and the Concacaf Champions Cup, and fitting all the dates into a calendar year can be a real headache. Even programming fixtures for these four competitions means a lot of games, many minutes and few days of rest between matchdays.

That is why stopping MLS for international breaks is simply impossible in the current climate. “We can’t afford it,” Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, explained. “If we have to shut the league down and lose games, it impacts our players. It impacts our partners. It impacts our fans. It impacts everything that that MLS has to deliver for all of our stakeholders. The 2026 World Cup is an entirely different animal. I can’t imagine we’re going to be playing games during the World Cup, but the economic impact of that is significant”.

This obstacle has led to several complaints from franchises, players and coaches alike. In recent years, the league has let more than 75 players leave to be with their respective national teams during international breaks with some teams having to give up to nine or ten players per date. With the arrival of Messi, it is expected that the league can be updated because so many teams are now decimated during the breaks themselves, losing points and games that can mean the difference between a good season and a bad one.