MLS set to allow clubs three competitions from 2027

What changes in 2027

The key shift is simple: clubs would no longer be capped at two non-league tournaments.

• The report says MLS teams could play the U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup in the same season.
• U.S.-based MLS clubs are expected to enter the Open Cup in the Round of 64 in July 2027.
• MLS teams would reportedly get home priority in their first Open Cup match.

That matters because the Open Cup has long sat at the center of the club-versus-calendar debate. Restoring full participation would look like a reset after recent limits on MLS involvement.

Why the format matters

The scheduling details are just as important as the policy change.

• The Round of 32 is reportedly set for September 14-15.
• The quarter-finals would be played in late November.
• The final is pencilled in for December 15.

That timeline appears tied to MLS’s new summer-to-spring league calendar. The report also says matchday squads would expand from 18 to 20 players, with clubs able to use first-team, MLS NEXT Pro and academy options. That could ease fixture congestion and create more competitive minutes for younger players.

The Open Cup story is not finished yet

While the 2027 plan grabs the headline, 2026 still has live stakes. The current semi-finals reportedly feature Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC and Colorado Rapids vs St. Louis City, with the final scheduled for October 21.

The next storyline is obvious: whether this reported shift turns the Open Cup back into a true all-in competition for MLS teams, rather than a scheduling compromise.