Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles FC, has been confirmed as the next commissioner of Major League Soccer following a vote at the league’s midtown Manhattan headquarters.
The announcement was made on Monday, with Berg set to officially assume the commissioner’s role on January 1, 2027, replacing longtime leader Don Garber.
Berg, who is 60 years old, has served as Co-Managing Owner of LAFC and Co-Chair of Major League Soccer’s Sporting and Competition Committee prior to his appointment.
He will be required to divest his ownership interest in LAFC to ensure he leads all 30 clubs with complete impartiality, consistent with MLS governance policies.
Berg was formally selected through a comprehensive succession planning process led by the MLS Board of Governors, with advisory support from Korn Ferry, CAA, and The Miles Group throughout the search.
“I’m honored to lead Major League Soccer into its next era,” Berg said in a statement, adding that he believes “our greatest opportunities are still ahead.”
Berg acknowledged the work needed to grow the game, citing plans to strengthen competition quality, develop world-class players, deepen supporter connections, and elevate MLS’s standing in global football.
Don Garber will remain in post through the end of 2026 before transitioning to a chairman role in 2027, providing a seamless handover during a critical period for the league.
“Having worked closely with Larry over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the qualities that make him an exceptional leader,” Garber said, expressing complete confidence in his successor.
Garber praised Berg’s integrity, judgment, collaborative leadership, and his commitment to building both LAFC and Major League Soccer into what they are today.
Berg brings extensive business experience to the role, having spent 30 years as a senior partner at Apollo Global Management before joining the Josh Harris-founded firm 26North in 2023.
He also previously served as chairman of McGraw-Hill Education and holds ownership interests in Italian Serie A club AS Roma and Welsh side Swansea City AFC.
Berg becomes only the third commissioner in MLS history, following Doug Logan and Don Garber, who took the helm in August 1999 after 16 years as an NFL executive.
During Garber’s 27-year tenure, the league grew from 10 teams to 30 clubs, with collective valuations reaching approximately $23 billion ahead of the current season.
LAFC, which Berg co-owns and which had its debut season in 2018, is valued at $1.32 billion according to Forbes and has claimed two Supporters’ Shields and an MLS Championship.
The succession committee included Board of Governors members Cliff Illig, John Ingram, Jonathan Kraft, Joe Mansueto, and Oliver Mintzlaff, representing clubs across the league.
Berg’s first full season as commissioner will coincide with MLS launching a new competition calendar in 2027, beginning with a shortened sprint season designed to accommodate the structural transition.
The league is also targeting a lucrative new media rights deal, with its current Apple TV agreement set to expire in 2029, making those negotiations a key priority for Berg’s early tenure.
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