Larry Berg Set to Succeed Don Garber as MLS Commissioner
Larry Berg will become the next Major League Soccer commissioner, replacing Don Garber. He will divest his ownership stake in Los Angeles FC.
Major League Soccer is preparing for a significant leadership transition as Larry Berg has been named the league's next commissioner, succeeding longtime chief Don Garber. The appointment marks a generational shift at the helm of a league that has grown substantially under Garber's extended tenure, and Berg's selection signals that MLS ownership is betting on continuity rooted in insider knowledge of the sport's American landscape.
Berg's path to the commissioner's office comes with one notable condition: he will be required to sell his ownership stake in Los Angeles FC, the expansion club that has become one of the league's marquee franchises. The divestiture reflects standard conflict-of-interest protocols that prevent a league chief executive from holding a financial interest in one of its member clubs, ensuring that Berg enters the role without the appearance of favoritism toward any single ownership group.
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The transition is expected to take place next year, giving the league time to manage a structured handoff. Garber has served as MLS commissioner since 1999, shepherding the league through a period of dramatic expansion, stadium construction booms, and high-profile international player signings. Whoever steps into that role inherits both the momentum of a maturing league and the pressure of rising competition for the American sports fan's attention and wallet.
For analysts, the Berg appointment raises immediate questions about strategic direction — particularly how MLS will position itself against a growing domestic soccer calendar, including the buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States. Berg's ownership background gives him an operator's perspective, which could shape how the league negotiates future media rights deals and expansion fees.
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