Less than a month after the playoffs for 2023 concluded with Columbus Crew's 2-1 win over LAFC in the MLS Cup final, the schedule for the 2024 MLS season has been revealed.
Lionel Messi is set to embark on his first full Major League Soccer season in the coming year, while Inter Miami and the other 28 franchises all start from scratch in an effort to secure the MLS Cup. Meanwhile, knockout competitions include the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which will be interspersed around league play.
For the first time since 2016, no expansion teams will join the MLS ranks, with San Diego FC not set to begin play until 2025.
The Sporting News details all the information around the 2024 MLS league schedule release in late December, 2023.
MORE: All of Inter Miami's preseason fixtures ahead of 2024 season, including Messi vs Ronaldo
When are 2024 MLS fixtures released?
MLS announced its schedule for the 2024 season on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.
Details on the opening fixtures can be found below.
🗓️🔜 pic.twitter.com/ln6qNXcTYJ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 20, 2023
What does the 2023/24 offseason schedule look like?
Back in October, Major League Soccer announced the offseason schedule for this coming winter.
With clubs hoping to revamp their squads, and new collegiate players hoping to enter the league, the 2023/24 offseason will be a busy one, especially in the immediate aftermath of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Below is a summary of the important dates to begin the 2023/24 offseason schedule.
- December 1, 2023: Clubs must submit all triggered contract extensions (except the clubs still participating in the MLS Cup playoffs, whose deadline is the day following their last playoff game)
- December 9, 2023: MLS draft combine
- December 11, 2023: Trade window opens
- December 12, 2023: Waiver process begins
- December 13, 2023: Free agency opens
- December 19, 2023: 2024 MLS SuperDraft
When will the 2024 MLS season begin?
The 2024 MLS regular season will begin on February 21, 2024, and will run until October 19, 2024. The playoffs will then proceed until MLS Cup final day on December 7, 2024.
The first match of the season will be Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake on February 21, three days before the official opening weekend. Lionel Messi will raise the curtain on the 2024 season at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
