Larry Berg Named Next MLS Commissioner as League Prepares for Major Changes
Larry named the next commissioner of Major League Soccer. He will begin the job on January 1, 2027, replacing Don Garber.
Garber will remain commissioner through the end of 2026. He will then become MLS chairman, helping with the transition while Berg takes full control of daily operations for the league.
The appointment gives MLS a commissioner who already knows the league from inside its ownership and committee system.
Major League Soccer announced the decision on August 3 after a succession process led by its Board of Governors. The search included help from Korn Ferry, CAA, and The Miles Group. Berg is scheduled to be formally introduced at league headquarters in Midtown Manhattan.
Berg currently serves as co-chair of the MLS Sporting and Competition Committee. That position has involved work on league competition, roster policies, player investment, and other rules that shape how clubs build their teams.
His experience with LAFC is a major part of his record. Berg helped build the club before it began play in 2018, and the team quickly became one of the league's strongest organizations. LAFC won the MLS Cup in 2022 and captured the Supporters' Shield in 2019 and 2022.
Berg will have to sell his ownership interest in LAFC before becoming commissioner. The move is required under league rules so that he can oversee all 30 clubs without favoring the team he helped build.
The Associated Press reported that Berg is 60 years old and will take office at the start of the new year.
Berg has also been involved in soccer outside the United States. He previously held ownership interests in AS Roma of Italy's Serie A and Swansea City in Wales. Those investments gave him direct exposure to leagues that operate under different financial systems, competition formats, and player markets.
His business career is centered on private equity and corporate leadership. Berg spent about 30 years as a senior partner at Apollo Global Management before retiring from the firm in 2022. He later became a senior partner at the investment firm 26North.
Berg earned an economics degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He later received a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Reuters reported that the league will face talks about roster rules, future media rights, and a new collective bargaining agreement. Each issue could affect player spending, club revenues, labor relations, and the league's ability to compete for talent.
MLS is also preparing for a major calendar change. The league has traditionally played most of its season within a single calendar year, beginning in late winter and ending in the fall. Starting in the summer of 2027, MLS plans to move to a summer-to-spring schedule that more closely matches leading leagues in Europe.
Before that full change, MLS will hold a shortened sprint season from February through May 2027. Each club is expected to play 14 regular-season games against conference opponents. A single-elimination playoff will follow, with one team winning the 2027 MLS Cup.
The new schedule will be one of Berg's first major tests. MLS clubs in colder cities will need to handle winter weather, while the league must also work around international competitions and national team breaks. Supporters will need clear information about when games will be played and how the shorter transition season will work.
The league is also trying to build on the attention created by the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. MLS leaders see the tournament as a chance to attract new fans, improve youth development, and raise the league's international standing.
ESPN previously reported that Berg was among three finalists for the job. The other leading candidates were Paraag Marathe, president of 49ers Enterprises and chairman of Leeds United, and David Nathanson, a former Fox Sports executive with experience in sports media.
Berg's selection suggests that owners valued his direct knowledge of MLS operations. He has worked with club executives, owners, and league committees for years. He also understands the challenges of running a team in a large and competitive sports market.
Garber leaves Berg with a league that is much larger than the one he inherited. Garber became commissioner in 1999, when MLS had 10 clubs and was still fighting for long-term stability. The league now has 30 teams across the United States and Canada.
During Garber's tenure, MLS added new ownership groups, opened soccer-specific stadiums, and expanded into many major markets. Twenty-six soccer stadiums were developed during his years as commissioner, according to the league.
Berg said his goals include improving the quality of competition, developing more world-class players, building stronger connections with supporters, and raising the league's place in global soccer. Those goals are broad, and the details of his plans have not yet been released.
His first years will likely be shaped by decisions already moving forward. The calendar change, roster reform, media negotiations, stadium projects, and labor talks will all require cooperation between owners, players, sponsors, broadcasters, and fans.
Berg will also face pressure to balance growth with fair competition. Wealthier clubs want more freedom to sign top players, while smaller-market teams depend on league rules that limit spending and protect competitive balance.
The next commissioner must also improve the path from youth soccer to professional teams. MLS has invested heavily in academies and development programs, but American and Canadian clubs still compete with overseas teams for young talent.
Berg's record at LAFC gives him a strong starting point, but running an entire league is different from guiding one club. Every decision will affect teams with different markets, stadiums, budgets, climates, and supporter cultures.
The leadership change begins a new period for MLS.
Garber will remain nearby as chairman, but Berg will be responsible for turning the league's plans into results. His success will depend on whether MLS can improve its play, strengthen its business, develop players, and keep supporters engaged during a period of major change.