When is Soccer Season? A Complete Guide
Knowing when the next season starts is important for any player, coach, or fan of the game because it allows players to have the right gear in time or know where to tune in to keep up with their favorite teams and players.
The beautiful game is the most popular sport in the world, and there are hundreds of amateur and professional soccer leagues around the world, but they take place at different times of the year. In this blog, I will explain when soccer seasons start for youth soccer, high school, college, Major League Soccer, and other leagues around the world.
When do Soccer Seasons Around the World Start?
Due to environmental, logistical, and economic conditions, soccer seasons around the world start and end at different times of the year. Usually, soccer seasons last 6 to 10 months and are divided into the pre-season and post-season. Let’s take a closer look at some of the schedules from leagues around the world.
U.S Youth Soccer
In the United States, youth soccer is usually a winter and spring sport, typically played between September and November. However, depending on the league and age group, some U.S. youth soccer teams also play for other months of the year.
High School Soccer
High school soccer is also a winter sport, played from November through February. Depending on the league and how well teams place, some teams will make it to the postseason play-off, which may go into March in some cases.
College Soccer
In college, soccer is a Fall sport that is played between August and December. Part of the summer counts as pre-season, and only the best teams will make it to the post-season playoffs.
Some college soccer teams also have a spring schedule, though there are fewer games than during the fall season, which is the main season.
Amateur Leagues in the United States
The United States pyramid includes top amateur leagues that can be considered the Fourth Division. These are the dates for those leagues.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL):
The UPSL plays soccer year-round, with two seasons. The spring season begins in March and ends with the playoffs in late August. The fall season begins in September and ends in February.
National Premier Soccer League
The NPSL league starts around March, April, or May, depending on the league and state, and will usually run until about July.
NISA Nations Soccer
The NISA Nations Soccer League is affiliated with the 3rd tier of professional soccer, NISA, and is a top amateur league. The regular season begins in March and ends in June for the postseason.
Southwest Premiere League
The SWPL is a top amateur league in some states, affiliated with NISA, and it has two seasons. One runs from November to January,, and there is also a spring season.
Major League Soccer Season
The Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season typically begins in late February or early March and runs through October. The key dates for the MLS playoffs are from late November until December, when the MLS Leagues Cup also takes place.
The MLS season follows a spring-to-fall schedule to avoid harsh winter weather conditions that could impact gameplay.
European Soccer Leagues’ Schedules
All of the following top European competitions follow the same format of starting in August and ending around May the next year.
- Premier League: You can find more information on their official website.
- Bundesliga: You can find more information on their official site.
- La Liga: You can find more information here.
- Serie A: You can find more information on their official website.
- Ligue 1: You can find more information on their official website.
South American Countries’ Calendar-Year Format
In South America, soccer seasons generally follow a calendar-year format, beginning in January or February and concluding by December. The most popular leagues in South America include Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (official website) and Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol (official website).
This schedule aligns better with international competitions such as the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Summary
To summarize, soccer seasons differ around the world, which is a good thing for fans because it means there is almost always a soccer game to watch on television. In this blog, I covered everything you need to know about the basics of soccer seasons around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to watch soccer games online?
The best way to watch soccer games online is to use one of the best soccer streaming services.
What team has won the MLS Cup the most in league history?
Among all MLS teams, the LA Galaxy has won the most MLS Cup trophies in league history. The reigning champions of Major League Soccer are the Columbus Crew, who defeated LAFC. This was the second straight season LAFC reached the final, but they were unable to win that one match.
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer, the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high-level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews, watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, TV shows, and anime.
