The MLS will adopt a European-style fall-to-spring season in 2027.Instead of running from February to December, soccer will be played from July to May with a break from mid-December to February.The new calendar will mean more cold-weather gamesGetty“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.“Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”MLS franchises being able to compete in the same transfer windows will help close the gap to dominant European leagues.On the other side of the coin, there will be increased competition with the NFL season and the prospect of more games played in brutal conditions — especially in northern states.LA Galaxy president and COO Tom Braun sat down with talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs and admitted that his team should avoid some of the main pitfalls. “I think the league and the club will certainly be in a stronger position,” he said. “I think we made the decision with the expectations and the hope that we’d be in a stronger position. And to align with the European calendar means a lot, definitely from a player standpoint, bringing players in and transferring players out and just the competition.“So, I think from a global perspective, it’s definitely going to be something that has a meaningful impact. Not only for the team on the field, but also the business as well. “The better players we can bring in, the better off we are as a league to elevate our status amongst the other leagues across the world. So, we’re looking forward to it.“There is a lot of challenges that come with it initially. Educating the fan base on the change, competing in the sprint season, and then moving forward in a meaningful way. “But after you get past the sprint season in 2027, along with the scheduled change in 2027-2028, and then it’s going to become normal for our fans and they would expect it.MLS bosses are hoping to use creative scheduling to avoid weather issuesGettyBraun and Jacobs spoke in front of David Beckham’s statue in Legends PlazaTalkSPORT“Listen, we’re in California. It’s sunny. It’s sunny year-round. I think we get 20 to 30 days of rain a year. So, it’s less impactful for us because any time you come to a Galaxy game, it’s likely going to be a good temperature and a good environment.“So, we don’t compete with some of the same challenges that other teams that are in the northern parts of the States compete with.”World Cup fever boosts GalaxyHosting the 1994 World Cup gave U.S. soccer a massive boost and the early signs suggest this year’s tournament could be as — if not more — transformative.Galaxy is doing everything it can to take advantage.“Our league was birthed out of the ’94 World Cup,” Braun said. “And this is our 31st season. “And to see the remarkable journey and iterations that MLS has had over the last 30-plus seasons has been pretty remarkable.History MakersDonovan, Dempsey, Pulisic – How far can Christian Pulisic climb in the list of all-time USMNT scorers?From GK heroes to superstar strikers – ranking the greatest USMNT World Cup performances of all timeGoal machines to the man who burned his kit after World Cup snub – who has made the most appearances for USMNT?Third place on World Cup debut and group stage agony – a World Cup history from 1930 to 2026“We started off with educating our fan bases about the sport of soccer and getting them interested. And now you’re seeing it with our national team, with the U.S. having some success in the World Cup, and just the sold-out stadiums across North America, including all the games here in Los Angeles. It’s pretty remarkable how far the U.S. has come. “And I feel that MLS takes a lot of that responsibility for what has grown into being a really meaningful sport in our country. And it just continues to grow even further and further. It is exciting to see. “So, our job now, with the World Cup in our backyard, is how are we taking advantage of that opportunity, where you’re getting a lot of people who maybe were casually interested in soccer becoming much more avid and much more passionate about soccer? And how are you taking that enthusiasm for soccer and turning it into a Galaxy fan?“So, for us, it really starts in the community and how we show up every day for Angelinos in the city of Los Angeles in the community. And that could be things like, we host watch parties for World Cup. And that’s had such a really good response. But it isn’t just showing watch parties. It’s giving back to the community. So, we install local mini pitches and we do things with Special Olympics. “And it’s showing up in a meaningful way that translates into a soccer fan-avidity that starts on the field with the players and scoring goals and winning games. However, it translates into the fandom of something a little bit deeper in our fan base, a deeper connection to our fans. And that really resides in the community and with our fans and local Angelinos.”Beer is flowing at the watch parties and that money is going right back to a community which has embraced soccer from the off.“We shut down the street in Long Beach for two and a half weeks,” beamed Braun. “So the entire group stage will then move those watch parties that here at Galaxy Park, which is, you know, right behind us here where we have a big screen for the round of 16.“And then for the semifinals, third place and final will be on the sand in Hermosa Beach, which will bring an incredible crowd of people actually on the beach. Very iconic Los Angeles, which we’re excited about. 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So the iconic Santa Monica Pier, we’ve been there for about 12 days with Michelob Ultra, in which all the proceeds of any beer sales go back to LA Galaxy Foundation, which is giving back to the community.”Stay up to date on all things MLS across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.