Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and private equity executive, was selected by MLS club owners on August 3, 2026, to succeed Don Garber as the league's next commissioner starting January 1, 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Berg, 60, brings over 30 years of private equity experience, having worked at Apollo Global Management and now at 26North. He plans to divest his LAFC ownership before taking office [1, 2, 5, 3, 4].
MLS currently has 30 teams, having grown rapidly since its 1996 founding from 10 to 30 teams by 2026 [6]. Berg highlighted the momentum from the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted partly in the US and Canada as a launching pad. "The foundation has been built. Now it's our responsibility to build on it and that's what excites me most," he said. "I didn't accept this role to protect what we've already accomplished. I accepted it because I believe this league is ready for its next chapter" [3].
Berg emphasized improving the quality of play as the key to growing fan interest and increasing financial resources. "Quality on the field is obviously number one. The more we grow fandom, the more resources we have to improve the quality on the field, and the more the quality on the field grows, the more fandom we'll have," he said [2]. A major focus will be on strengthening MLS's youth development, including MLS academies and MLS Next Pro, which he said should become "that much more productive" [1]. Berg wants MLS to stand out by regularly giving teenage players first-team minutes, helping replenish the US and Canadian national teams [1, 2].
MLS has 16 clubs with private equity investors. Berg reassured fans that such investment can support growth if structured well and cited the league's partnership with private equity firm KKR as a positive example [1, 2]. He rejected calls for promotion and relegation in MLS, calling it inappropriate for the league's single-entity structure and unlikely to happen soon [6].
Starting in February 2027, MLS will shift to a shortened 14-game "sprint" season intended to better align with the international calendar [4]. The league is also considering changes to its salary cap and roster rules to boost competitiveness and spending power, changes Berg is expected to back given his LAFC experience [4].
Berg will officially assume the commissioner role on January 1, 2027, as MLS prepares for the schedule change and the next phase of its growth after the FIFA World Cup.
