Berg elected as third commissioner in MLS history

Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been voted the next commissioner of Major League Soccer, becoming just the third commissioner in the league's history, according to the league's announcement.

Berg, 60, received the required two-thirds super majority from MLS owners on Monday at the league's headquarters in New York City, where he and former Fox executive David Nathanson — the two finalists — made final presentations. Only primary governors were in attendance for the vote.

The incoming commissioner will officially take charge on Jan. 1, 2027, while Don Garber — who has served since 1999 — will remain in the job through the end of the calendar year before transitioning into a role of chairman.

"I'm honored to lead Major League Soccer into its next era," Berg said in a statement. "Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead. We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer's place in the global game. Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next."

A formidable résumé

Berg, a former senior partner at Apollo Global Management, will have to divest his ownership stake in LAFC as he takes on the new role. He was elevated to co-chair of the sporting and competition committee, a group of owners charged with tending to the on-field product, and pushed to drive efficiency around decision-making at the committee level, which often took years to get decisions across the line.

While some view Berg as leaning toward the more aggressive arm of the debate within MLS's board of governors — which has major philosophical differences between factions of owners — the LAFC owner was seen as more moderate within the committee. He has not called for radical changes such as spending without a salary cap, but he has not hidden from the fact that evolution is necessary.

"I don't think anyone believes that not changing is a potential outcome," Berg said in The Messi Effect. "People have different views on what should be changed, and I respect that, but I don't have anybody's coming up and saying, 'You know what? We got a really good thing going. We don't need to change a thing. We're gonna risk it all.' No one is in that mode. We all understand we're a follower league. We're growing and we have to keep doing things."

Garber's legacy and the road ahead

Garber oversaw the growth of MLS from 12 teams to 30 this year, along with an increase in franchise valuations that make MLS one of the most valuable soccer leagues in the world.

The league has several critical decisions ahead. Owners heard a presentation last week at the MLS All-Star game around alterations to the roster rules and budget guidelines, which would alter how teams are allowed to spend money. The aim is to streamline rules and make it easier for teams to spend throughout the roster to make MLS more competitive with Liga MX and other global soccer leagues.

Getting those changes across the line — and in time for the calendar switch in the summer of 2027 — is critical but will require negotiations with the MLS Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league also faces a new media rights deal soon. The current deal with Apple expires in the summer of 2029. MLS will be paid $200 million for its 2026 season and $107.5 million for the "sprint season" that runs from February to May 2027, then $275 million per year for the final two seasons in the new summer-to-spring format. The league will try to convince a new partner — or potentially Apple — that it deserves far more money in the next deal.

That Nathanson was a finalist is indicative of how important media rights factor into MLS's future. The league lags behind competitors in the value of its domestic deal and needs to significantly increase revenues there in order to grow the business. (Longtime San Francisco 49ers executive Paraag Marathe was another finalist, though he withdrew from consideration and subsequently announced he was leaving his role with the 49ers.)

Garber will remain a visible force in the transition, but the league now turns to Berg to lead its next phase of growth — and the new commissioner is already clear-eyed about the work ahead.