Larry Berg has officially been unveiled as the next Major League Soccer commissioner, pledging to build on the foundations laid by his long-serving predecessor Don Garber.
Berg, 60, addressed media members and hundreds of league employees at MLS headquarters in Manhattan, outlining his ambitions for the role he assumes on January 1, 2027.
The LAFC co-managing owner takes charge of a league that has grown from 12 to 30 teams under Garber’s stewardship across nearly three decades at the helm.
The average MLS franchise is now valued at $767 million, a 39% increase since 2021, with seven MLS clubs ranking among the 30 most valuable soccer clubs in the world.
Inter Miami, headlined by Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player in the sport’s history, leads the way among those seven clubs in global valuation rankings.
Berg was unanimously approved by league owners over the other finalist, former Fox executive David Nathanson, and arrives with a strong soccer background unlike any previous commissioner.
“My responsibility is to work with our clubs, our owners and everyone across this league to build on that foundation to help Major League Soccer reach its full potential,” Berg told those gathered at the league’s Manhattan headquarters.
Berg, a former senior partner at Apollo Global Management and 26 North, has served as co-chair of MLS’ sporting and competition committee, giving him deep familiarity with the league’s complex roster rules.
Simplifying that rulebook is among his top priorities, with Berg keen to make MLS more competitive on the global stage and more attractive to international soccer audiences.
“We’ve accomplished an extraordinary amount over the last three decades, but success can never become an excuse for standing still,” Berg said. “Status quo is not an option.”
The league’s transition to a fall-to-spring calendar, starting in 2027 to align with European leagues, is already underway following Garber’s initiative, and Berg sees it as a major step forward for on-field quality.
“My job is to sell the future and to paint what MLS can be,” Berg said, referencing the new playoff system and expanded Leagues Cup tournament as key selling points to prospective media partners.
Garber, who was introduced as commissioner exactly 27 years before Berg’s own unveiling, offered his full endorsement of the incoming leadership during the event.
“This is really not a time to look back on what’s happened over the last 28 to 31 years of the league, it really is about the future, the future path that we’ll be on with new leadership, the future energy that Larry is going to bring to this sport,” Garber said.
Berg addressed the persistent question of promotion and relegation directly, saying: “I can understand the appeal for the fan, but I don’t think it’s a great way to build a league. I don’t think it’s appropriate for our league. I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.”
Near the top of Berg’s agenda are a new collective bargaining agreement with players, with the current deal set to expire next year, and a new television contract to replace the Apple TV arrangement expiring in 2029.
The post Incoming MLS Commissioner Larry Berg Vows To Push League Forward As He Prepares To Take Over From Don Garber appeared first on Gooner Daily.
