LAFC's Larry Berg Voted Next MLS Commissioner, Succeeding Don Garber

MLS Owners Tap LAFC's Larry Berg as Next Commissioner

The MLS board of governors has voted to install LAFC co-managing owner Larry Berg as the league's next commissioner, Sportico first reported. A source familiar with the vote confirmed the decision. Berg will become the third commissioner in league history.

He succeeds Don Garber, who has run MLS since 1999 and oversaw its growth from 10 teams to 30 clubs, navigating the early-2000s contraction that folded two franchises. Berg will formally take over on 1 January 2027, the league confirmed during his introductory press conference on Tuesday.

From Club Owner to League Office

Berg's primary career is outside soccer. He is a senior partner at 26North, a private equity firm, placing him among a growing class of financiers now owning American sports franchises. The board's choice signals an appetite for leadership fluent in capital markets and enterprise valuation, not merely the sport.

Elevating an active club owner rather than an outside sports executive mirrors how centrally structured leagues operate. Berg has sat on the MLS board of governors for years, giving him direct knowledge of the league's internal politics, media rights negotiations, and expansion economics.

At his Tuesday press conference, Berg addressed one of the most persistent debates surrounding MLS: the question of promotion and relegation. He said the idea of bringing pro/rel to North America is not "appropriate," effectively closing the door on the proposal during his tenure. The league has operated without the system since its founding, and Berg's stance leaves no ambiguity about the direction under his leadership.

Garber's Three Decades

When Garber arrived from the NFL's international office, MLS was a struggling single-entity operation with weak television ratings and fragile attendance. He pushed through construction of soccer-specific stadiums, secured broadcast partnerships, and backed the designated player rule that brought global stars to the league.

Succession speculation had circulated for several seasons. At 67, Garber's continued service drew periodic questions about his exit timeline. Owners wanted a successor who would not disrupt the league's financial trajectory, which recently included a media rights deal with Apple reportedly worth at least $2.5 billion over a decade.

What Berg Actually Faces

Berg inherits a league in a stronger financial position than any previous MLS commissioner enjoyed, though the problems are structurally distinct. The Apple TV deal centralized the broadcast model, but average viewership remains a fraction of the domestic numbers established European leagues draw on American screens.

The new commissioner must also manage tension between MLS and the global transfer market. European clubs increasingly sign young American talent directly from academies, bypassing the domestic college draft entirely. How Berg handles player development pathways and outbound transfer fees will shape the league's competitive standing.

Berg's first public statements as incoming commissioner leave little room for doubt on the league's structural philosophy. The promotion and relegation question is now settled under his leadership, at least for the foreseeable future. Garber's exit date remains unannounced. Until he vacates the chair, Berg continues as an owner, preparing for a role that will require him to step back from direct club interests and run a league with expansion ambitions still ahead.

Updated: 2026-08-05 - Added Berg's official introduction press conference details and confirmed the 1 January 2027 handover date, along with his explicit opposition to promotion and relegation.