Major League Soccer officially enters a new chapter as Larry Berg, co-owner of LAFC, prepares to take the helm as the league’s third commissioner in January 2027. The league unveiled Berg during a Tuesday press conference at MLS headquarters in New York, where he appeared alongside outgoing commissioner Don Garber, who has led the organization for 27 years since 1999. Berg received the required two-thirds vote from the league’s 30 team owners on Monday, setting the stage for his formal appointment at the start of next year.

Garber will assist with the transition before moving into a new position as chairman, allowing Berg to build on the foundation established during nearly three decades of unprecedented growth. The 60-year-old private equity professional brings extensive league experience, having served as co-chair of the MLS sporting and competition committee. Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam emphasized Berg’s deep involvement, stating that Berg has been “the most involved owner” over the last five years and “understands what we do well.”

Building Consensus Among Ownership Groups

Berg accepted the role with a clear mandate to unite the league’s diverse ownership ecosystem around a shared vision for the future. Garber identified this capability as the defining characteristic that separated Berg from other candidates during the comprehensive selection process. “I think he’s convinced the ownership through a very comprehensive process that he has what it takes to do the two most important things, which is to create that vision, and then to get the owners to unite around it,” Garber explained, adding that Berg’s leadership style prioritizes understanding perspectives over ego.

The incoming commissioner described his appointment as an opportunity to advance the league beyond its current foundation. Berg emphasized that his focus centers on building consensus and improving the quality of play across MLS, positioning these priorities as the cornerstones of his leadership philosophy. He will divest his ownership interest in LAFC before assuming his new duties, ensuring no conflicts of interest as he takes charge of the 30-team league that Garber expanded during his tenure.

Capitalizing on World Cup Momentum

Berg inherits a league positioned to leverage the success of this past summer’s World Cup while navigating the transition to a new international schedule launching next year. The timing presents both opportunity and challenge, as MLS seeks to convert renewed soccer interest into sustained growth and relevance. Berg told The Associated Press that his enthusiasm and passion will help others “see it through my eyes and understand where we’re going and where it can go and what it can be,” expressing pride in the league’s current position while acknowledging the long journey ahead.

The new commissioner framed his appointment as the beginning of MLS’s next chapter rather than a defensive posture protecting past accomplishments.

“Simply put, the foundation has been built. Now it’s our responsibility to build on it and that’s what excites me most. 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,” Berg stated during Tuesday’s announcement.

Addressing the League’s Relevancy Challenge

Despite significant progress during Garber’s era, MLS continues to face what observers characterize as a relevancy problem. The league occupies an unusual space, feeling “cloistered away” from both the most prominent American sports leagues and major global soccer competitions. This positioning persists despite hosting high-caliber stars like Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and achieving financial stability that seemed uncertain during the league’s early years.

Berg outlined a strategy built around quality of play and collective decision-making among ownership groups to address these challenges. His pitch emphasizes pulling “the right levers” and making “the right decisions” to build on the extensive infrastructure now supporting American soccer. The incoming commissioner noted that the platform and infrastructure are in place, suggesting his focus will center on optimization rather than wholesale rebuilding.

Transition from Decades of Foundation-Building

Garber characterized the 40-minute introductory event as forward-focused rather than retrospective, deliberately avoiding extensive reflection on the past 28 to 31 years of league development. “This is really not a time to look back on what’s happened over the last 28 to 31 years of the League. It really is about the future, the future path that we’ll be on,” the outgoing commissioner declared, positioning Berg’s appointment as a natural evolution rather than a dramatic shift in direction.

The symbolic connection between the two commissioners extends beyond their shared responsibilities. Both Berg and Garber were unveiled as incoming MLS commissioners on the same day, though the 27 years separating their announcements underscores the transformation the league has undergone. Garber described Berg as a “byproduct” of decades of investment that transformed American soccer from a fragmented, under-resourced ecosystem into a fully professional operation supporting multiple layers of competition and development.

Personal Connection to the Sport

Berg’s lifelong passion for soccer distinguishes him among the league’s ownership ranks and factored prominently in his selection. Haslam emphasized this connection, observing that “next to his family, soccer is the most important thing in his life.” This deep personal commitment combines with Berg’s professional experience in private equity and his extensive knowledge of league operations gained through his LAFC ownership and committee leadership roles.

The new commissioner used Tuesday’s New York City event to introduce himself to the broader North American soccer community, discussing both his personal relationship with the sport and his priorities for what he described as MLS’s “new era.” His approach reflects confidence in the league’s current standing while acknowledging significant work remains to achieve breakthrough relevance in American sports culture and global soccer circles. Berg’s leadership will determine whether MLS can convert its solid foundation into the prominence that has eluded the league despite decades of steady growth.

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