When does soccer season start?
11 November 2026 · 4 min read
In the US, most soccer is played in two seasons: fall, from late August to November, and spring, from March to early June. That covers most youth recreational and club soccer. High school soccer depends on your state, college soccer is a fall sport, and the professional leagues each keep their own calendar.
Here is when each level starts, and when to register.
Soccer season start dates at a glance
| Level | Season usually starts | Season usually ends |
|---|---|---|
| Youth recreational and club, fall | Late August or September | November |
| Youth recreational and club, spring | March | Late May or early June |
| High school | Fall, winter or spring, depending on the state | Varies by state |
| College (NCAA) | Late August | November, with championships in December |
| MLS | February in 2026, moving to July from 2027 | See below |
| Premier League | Mid to late August | May |
Youth soccer: fall and spring
Most community leagues and clubs run a fall season and a spring season. Fall games usually begin in late August or early September, once school is back, and finish in November. Spring games usually begin in March, when fields reopen, and finish in late May or early June.
Practices start before games do, often two or three weeks earlier. So a fall season with a first game in early September usually means training from mid-August.
In warm states the calendar can shift, and many areas add indoor soccer or futsal in winter and camps or small-sided leagues in summer.
When should I register?
Earlier than most parents expect. Fall registration often opens in spring or early summer, and spring registration often opens in late fall or winter. Teams are formed weeks before the first practice, so signing up late can mean a waiting list. Check your local league's site as soon as the previous season ends.
High school soccer: it depends on your state
There is no national high school soccer season. Each state association sets its own. The National Federation of State High School Associations reports that boys soccer is a fall sport in 32 states, a spring sport in 14 and a winter sport in five.
- Fall states start practice in August and play into late October or November.
- Winter states include California, where the season runs from November into March, and Texas, where the season starts in January and ends with state finals in April.
- Spring states usually start in late February or March and finish in May or June.
Girls soccer does not always share the boys' season. Some states that play boys soccer in fall play girls soccer in spring. Your state athletic association's calendar is the only reliable source for exact dates.
College soccer
NCAA soccer is a fall sport. Teams report for preseason in August, matches start in late August or early September, and the regular season runs into November. The national championship tournaments finish in December. Many programs also play a short schedule of spring friendlies.
Professional soccer
MLS
Major League Soccer has played a spring-to-fall season for its whole history, and 2026 is the last full season on that calendar: the regular season ran from February 21 to November 7, with the playoffs after it.
From 2027 the league switches to a summer-to-spring calendar, in line with most of the world. The 2027-28 regular season is due to kick off in mid to late July 2027 and finish with the playoffs in May 2028. A short transition season is planned for the first half of 2027 to bridge the two.
Premier League and European leagues
European leagues run from August to May. The 2026-27 Premier League season started on the weekend of August 22, 2026, a week later than usual because of the World Cup, and ends on May 30, 2027. Most other European leagues start within a week or two of that.
NWSL
The National Women's Soccer League usually plays from March to November.
Adult and recreational leagues
Adult leagues are the most flexible. Many run year-round in blocks of eight to twelve weeks, with a new session starting each season: fall, winter indoor, spring and summer. If you want to play, there is rarely more than a few weeks to wait for the next one.
Getting your team ready before the first game
The weeks before the season are when a coach or organizer does most of the admin: confirming who is playing, sharing the schedule and collecting fees.
- Starting from scratch? Read how to start a soccer team first.
- Confirm your squad and get contact details into one team roster.
- Share practices and fixtures in one place, using a schedule people actually follow.
- Decide how players will tell you whether they are coming. A soccer team app turns that into one tap instead of a group chat.
Quick answers
What month does soccer season start? For most US youth soccer, late August for the fall season and March for the spring season.
Is soccer a fall or spring sport? Both. Youth soccer has a season in each. High school soccer is a fall sport in most states, and a winter or spring sport in the rest.
When does fall soccer start? Games usually begin in late August or early September, with practice two or three weeks before.
When does spring soccer start? Usually March, finishing in late May or early June.
How long is a soccer season? A youth season is usually around two to three months of games. Professional seasons last eight to ten months.
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