FC Dallas will enter monthlong MLS break for World Cup

FRISCO – After the game on Saturday, FC Dallas will pack its bags and step into a one‑month break right in the middle of its season.

With the World Cup kicking off June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, MLS scheduled a 30-day stoppage to make room for the biggest sporting event on the planet. 

It’s the kind of interruption that only happens in MLS, a league that doesn’t follow the traditional global soccer calendar — though that will change soon.

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“It’s a little strange, but as a player you have to adapt to whatever the league requires,” said FC Dallas midfielder Ramiro, a native of Brazil.

The World Cup pause arrives with FC Dallas sitting fifth in the Western Conference with 22 points and three wins in their last four matches.

“It’s unfortunate that our break is coming our way because we feel like we’re finding a little bit of a good rhythm,” said FC Dallas coach Eric Quill. “You know, when you find that rhythm, you want to keep playing.”

After the match in Colorado, FC Dallas players will take a three‑week vacation before returning to prepare for their July 22 match in Portland.

The MLS season runs from February to November, including the playoffs and the championship match — which this year will be pushed to December because of the World Cup break.

Most top leagues around the world play from August to May, leaving summers open for alternating confederation tournaments such as the Concacaf Gold Cup or the UEFA European Championship.

Beginning in the summer of 2027, MLS will shift to a summer‑to‑spring calendar, one of the most significant changes in league history.

“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said when he announced the move in November 2025.

FC Dallas President Dan Hunt recently called the alignment with Europe’s top leagues a “transformational change” for MLS.

“Aligning with the major leagues in Europe adds credibility to MLS and strengthens both the inbound and outbound player transfer markets. It also creates new opportunities for players across every club,” Hunt said. 

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Stopping for a month and then restarting the season is another quirky chapter Joaquín Valiente will add to his list of MLS experiences.

The Uruguayan midfielder joined FC Dallas in the offseason after spending last year on loan with Ecuadorian powerhouse Barcelona SC.

When asked about the impact of the four‑week break, Valiente acknowledged the challenge.

“We’ll inevitably lose some of the rhythm and understanding we’ve built as a group”, he said.

The 25‑year‑old said it will be up to each player to return in top physical condition so the team can restart at full speed.

From June 11 to July 18, the World Cup will dominate the attention of soccer fans — and even those who only occasionally peek into the world’s most popular sport.

FIFA projects approximately 6 billion global viewers and engaged fans for the 2026 tournament.

Related: Dallas emerges as a soccer TV stronghold ahead of the 2026 World Cup

FC Dallas players won’t be immune to the excitement sweeping North Texas, especially with AT&T Stadium hosting nine World Cup matches.

Ramiro said he plans to watch every Brazil match on TV and hopes to take his family to a game at the Cowboys’ stadium, though he’s run into the same dilemma as thousands of other fans.

“There are four of us in the family, and the tickets are a little expensive,” he said.

Valiente will spend his break in Uruguay with his family, but hopes to attend the Croatia vs. England match on June 17 in Arlington.

Related: How English fans evolved and what Dallas should expect when they come for the World Cup

FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, the team’s leading scorer, will be playing in that match for Croatia.

“I’d love to be at that game to support one of our own. For me, it’s an honor and a privilege to share a locker room with a player like Petar Musa,” Valiente said.

Quill, who describes himself as a passionate football fan, plans to attend the Argentina-Austria and Croatia-England matches at AT&T Stadium with his kids.

“I’m going to watch every game I can. I won’t be stepping away from the TV,” the FC Dallas coach said.

More than 6 billion people around the world will be doing the same.