Trending 
Major League Soccer (MLS) has appointed Los Angeles FC co-managing owner Larry Berg as its next commissioner, with the 57-year-old to succeed Don Garber on January 1, 2027.
Berg will become the third commissioner in MLS history while Garber, who has led the league since 1999, will move into the role of chairman to help ensure a smooth transition.
MLS said the league’s owners approved Berg’s appointment on Monday in New York.
Berg said he was honoured to lead the league into its next era and believed its biggest opportunities were still ahead. He said his priorities would include improving the quality of competition, developing more world-class players, strengthening ties with supporters and raising MLS’s standing in global football.
“I’m honoured to lead Major League Soccer into its next era,” Berg said in a statement issued by the league.
“The league has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead,” he added.
Under league rules, Berg will relinquish his ownership stake in LAFC before taking up the commissioner role. MLS said he would complete the divestment through its established transition process to ensure impartial leadership of all 30 clubs.
Berg played a key role in establishing LAFC as one of MLS’s leading clubs. The team won the MLS Cup in 2022 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2019 and 2022. He also brings experience in private equity and finance.
Garber will leave the commissioner’s post after 27 years, during which MLS expanded significantly despite facing major financial difficulties in the 2000s. The league lost two clubs in 2002 but has since grown in both the number and value of its teams.
Berg will take charge as MLS prepares for a major change to its calendar. The league plans to move from its current February-to-December schedule to one aligned with football leagues in much of the world.
The transition will begin with a February-to-May campaign in 2027, known as the MLS Sprint Season, before the 2027-28 season starts in July and concludes with the 2028 MLS Cup in May.
Other issues awaiting Berg include proposed changes to roster and salary-cap rules, a new collective bargaining agreement with players and negotiations over future media rights. The league’s current deal with Apple TV runs until mid-2029.
