Major League Soccer is back after what feels like a long winter break. During the break, the league announced on Nov. 13 2025, that it will change the schedule for when games are played.
The new format will see teams play a summer-to-spring season rather than the usual spring-to-fall season as the league aims to align with the top European leagues that use this format.
This change of format will help align with national tournaments, international breaks and the transfer market, as most players tend to leave on a free during the summer or get sold. Many Northern and Northeastern fans questioned the low winter temperatures. This new format will officially begin mid- to-late July 2027 and will take a break during mid-December, as the league normally does during the winter.
The season will resume mid- to-late February, and will play the remainder of the season until late April or early May to conclude the regular season. The MLS Cup will be played in May through early June. New York City FC will not have to worry about the cold temperatures that many fear.
It was an emotional rollercoaster for NYC FC fans as the club announced the departure of midfielder and Brooklyn native Justin Haak, who left the club as a free agent on his own terms to join LA Galaxy.
There were talks about his contract renewal that included a pay increase and being the highest compared to what other clubs offered him. But it was not enough and left many fans upset seeing homegrown player who joined the academy at the U-14 level. The Boys in Blue will face Haak’s LA Galaxy on Feb. 22 as the season opener. NYC FC signed Kai Trewin from Melbourne City FC, reinforcing the midfield, and signed many more players, as well as homegrown players.
A deal collapsed between NYC FC and FC Schalke 04 for forward Moussa Sylla. The contract has been signed and issues have arisen where the player failed the medical examination. This left NYC FC to renegotiate with the parent club about a loan instead of a permanent transfer. This left both parties unsatisfied because NYC FC needs a player to fit all games and not be injury- prone, as the club is without a striker and needs a backup as well.
NYC FC reveals the clubs new mascot, a pigeon named Sky Scraper. An announcement video was posted on all social media platforms, leading fans to believe it would reveal a new signing for the club. The video felt less professional and leaned toward the fun side. As they started to talk in a New York accent, the photos on the wall represented New York and even talked aboutthe long projects that take forever to finally finish.
Near the end of the video, and after 10 years of waiting, fans were presented with a pigeon: Sky was Born. Sky Scraper is what fans call a representation of what it is to be a New Yorker, as the pigeon was seen wearing the colors of the team, a NYC FC baseball cap and work boots, which many non-NY FC fans could tell were meant to represent the iconic Timberland work boots.
Sky is what many fans have asked for many years since the club’s birth, and the connection the club has with the pigeon. The pigeon is the symbol of the club and will be the club for the people. NYC FC is preparing for the next season as the club will finally have a home for the players, fans and Sky. MLS is back, and fans hope for the club to lift one more trophy before leaving Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.
