Earlier this afternoon, MLS and the Columbus Crew announced the schedule for the upcoming 2027 MLS Sprint Season, which will run from late February through May before an abbreviated MLS Cup Playoffs. The Sprint Season fills the gap between the end of the 2026 MLS season and the start of the new summer-to-spring 2027-2028 MLS season.
With the schedule now released, the Crew know exactly when and where their big matchups will be in the Sprint Season, but before we get too deep, let’s quickly run through the scheduling parameters. Each team in the Sprint Season plays only the other teams in its conference once. With 15 teams per conference, the Crew will play 14 total games, seven at home and seven on the road. That means Hell is Real will be played only once during the Sprint Season.
The big takeaway from the schedule release is that the Black & Gold will play a match every single Saturday for the 11 weeks of the Sprint Season. There is one international window during the Sprint Season (March 22 to 30), but Columbus will play during that window with one match against CF Montreal on March 27 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The remaining three matches will be midweek (Wednesday) matches, two of which are in Columbus. It appears most, if not all, teams will have two home weekday matches during the Sprint Season.
If you’re a Crew fan looking to see a big-name European player in the twilight of his career, you’ll be disappointed by the Sprint Season home schedule. Both Orlando City, home to Antoine Griezmann, and the Chicago Fire, Robert Lewandowski’s club, will be on the road. But MLS did Columbus a favor with one of their Wednesday matches, sending Leo Messi and Inter Miami to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on April 21 for a match that should pack the stadium with Black & Gold fans.
Unfortunately, both of the Crew’s rivalry matches will be played on the road this year. First up is an away match against Toronto FC on March 6. Hell is Real for the Sprint Season will be played in Cincinnati on April 24. The only match against 2026 Supporters’ Shield winners Nashville SC will also be on the road at Geodis Park on March 31.
If you haven’t had the chance to watch the Black & Gold play in a baseball stadium with a shockingly undersized field, you have one more chance on April 3, when they face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium one last time. The Pigeons will open their new stadium, Etihad Park, at the beginning of the 2027-2028 season.
The home slate isn’t just Messi and Miami; there’s also another chance to boo Michael Bradley when Red Bull New York visits Columbus on April 17.
Overall, the home Sprint Schedule is relatively lackluster for the Crew. Fans are within their rights to be disappointed in the lack of rivals traveling to Columbus but do have the benefit of non-stop Black & Gold soccer for 11 weeks.
