The opening fixtures of the 27th season of the Major League Soccer (MLS) have been scheduled for February 26, a little earlier than the traditional opener of the league. In a New Year message to fans of the league, Commissioner Don Garber explained that the earlier start and finish of the league is to accommodate the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup schedules. “The hot stove is cooking with the transfer window already open, and the MLS SuperDraft is set for January 11. Preseason training camps begin January 16 in advance of opening day on February 26”, the MLS Commissioner outlined this season’s calendar in his message. He further disclosed that the MLS Cup will take place on November 5, 16 days before the commencement of the World Cup in Qatar. Some major highlights for this season’s MLS include the debut season of the league’s 28th club, the opening of two more soccer-specific stadiums as Charlotte FC, with almost 50,000 tickets sold for their inaugural home match, have set a goal of breaking the MLS all-time regular season single-match attendance record. Also, Nashville SC will open its spectacular state-of-the-art 30,000-seat stadium in May. The stadium is expected to be the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States.