Major League Soccer opens its 31st season this weekend, kicking off one of the most consequential two-year stretches in the league’s history. There’s the impact of the World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer, then, in 2027, MLS will switch to a summer to spring schedule to align more closely with its international counterparts. MLS will take a seven-week break for the World Cup from May 25 to July 16. Many of the league’s stars, including Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and LAFC’s Son Heung-min, are expected to play in the tournament. MLS is hoping after that to see the so-called “World Cup Bump,” or a surge in interest that both men’s and women’s leagues often...
