Major League Soccer owners voted on August 3, 2026, to appoint Larry Berg as the league’s next commissioner, effective January 1, 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Berg, a co-owner of Los Angeles FC and private equity executive, will succeed Don Garber, who has served as commissioner since August 1999 and will transition to league chairman after 2026 [1, 3].
Berg has held his ownership stake in LAFC since its debut in 2018 but will sell his stake before taking on the commissioner role to avoid conflicts of interest [1, 3, 4, 5]. LAFC has grown rapidly as a top MLS franchise, with a Forbes valuation of $1.32 billion as of May 2026 [2]. Berg brings 30 years of finance experience, including a senior partnership at Apollo Global Management and a background at McGraw-Hill Education. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Don Garber, age 68, has led MLS through nearly three decades and will serve as commissioner through the end of 2026 before moving to chairman in 2027. His contract runs through the end of 2027, with some reports suggesting possible overlap as Berg assumes duties early in 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
MLS formed a succession committee in 2025, led by LAFC co-owner Bennett Rosenthal and Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam, with consulting firm Korn Ferry managing the search process [1, 3]. David Nathanson, a former Fox executive and sports media investor, was another top candidate who presented to MLS owners [1, 2, 3].
Among Berg’s early challenges will be negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement due in January 2028 and overseeing negotiations for the next media rights deal after the current contract with Apple expires following the 2028-29 season [4, 5]. MLS will also shift to a European-style calendar in late 2027 after staging a sprint season from February through May 2027 [5].
Berg is set to formally assume the commissioner role on January 1, 2027, marking a new chapter in MLS leadership after Garber’s nearly 28-year tenure [1, 3, 4].
