MLS announces Columbus Crew’s 2027 Sprint Season schedule

The Columbus Crew are preparing for a different kind of Major League Soccer season in 2027.

As MLS transitions to a new summer-to-spring calendar, Columbus will join the league’s inaugural Sprint Season, a shortened campaign featuring 14 regular-season matches before the postseason begins in May.

The Crew’s complete schedule, including match dates, kickoff times, and home/away designations, is below. Home matches are in bold.

  • Saturday, Feb. 27 vs. Philadelphia Union (1 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, Mar. 6 vs. Toronto FC (3 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, Mar. 13 vs. Orlando City SC (3 p.m. EDT)
  • Wednesday, Mar. 17 vs. Atlanta United (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, Mar. 20 vs. D.C. United (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, Mar. 27 vs. CF Montreal (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Wednesday, Mar. 31 vs. Nashville SC (8 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, April 3 vs. New York City FC (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, April 10 vs. Chicago Fire FC (8 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, April 17 vs. Red Bull New York (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Wednesday, April 21 vs. Inter Miami CF (7 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, April 24 vs. FC Cincinnati (5 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, May 1 vs. Charlotte FC (5 p.m. EDT)
  • Saturday, May 8 vs. New England Revolution

Unlike the traditional 34-match MLS regular season, the 2027 Sprint Season will run over a much shorter period, beginning in February and ending its regular-season portion in May. Columbus will face each of its 14 Eastern Conference opponents once, playing seven matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and seven on the road.

The shortened format means every result will carry more weight as teams compete for postseason positioning with fewer chances to recover from early setbacks.

What to expect from the Sprint Season

The 2027 campaign will serve as a transitional competition before MLS officially adopts its new calendar.

Under the new format, the top eight teams from each conference will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Unlike the current postseason structure, the 2027 playoffs will feature single-elimination matches throughout, culminating in the MLS Cup in May.

The higher-seeded team will host each postseason match, putting greater emphasis on regular-season results and conference positioning. Beyond competing for the MLS Cup, teams will also have opportunities to qualify for international competitions.

Sprint Season performance will help determine qualification for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2028 Leagues Cup.

A new opportunity for Columbus

For the Black & Gold, the shortened campaign offers a chance to build momentum as MLS enters a new era of competition.

After a challenging 2026 season marked by coaching changes, roster adjustments, and inconsistent results, Columbus will look to build greater stability in 2027.

With only 14 regular-season matches, the Crew will have considerably less time to develop chemistry, address early struggles, or make up ground in the Eastern Conference standings.

That could make the opening weeks especially important.

The Crew will also have to prepare for a different schedule, with the regular season beginning in the fall months rather than following the league’s traditional late-February-to-December calendar.

What comes after the Sprint Season?

After the 2027 Sprint Season ends, MLS will begin its first full summer-to-spring campaign in July 2027.

The 2027-28 season will run through May 2028, bringing MLS closer to competition calendars used by several of the world’s leading soccer leagues.

The new format will also feature a winter break, with no league matches scheduled during January.

For Columbus, the Sprint Season represents both a new challenge and an opportunity ot build toward the league’s next chapter.

The Crew’s full 2027 schedule, including opponents, home and away assignments, match dates, and kickoff times, will be added once Major League Soccer officially announces it.

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