What Happened to Major League Soccer (MLS)?
Major League Soccer (MLS) has experienced significant growth and transformation, particularly from 2023 to 2026. Driven by strategic media partnerships, high-profile player acquisitions like Lionel Messi, and anticipation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the league has seen record-breaking attendance and viewership, increased franchise valuations, and implemented key structural changes including a new commissioner and a shift to a fall-to-spring calendar.
Quick Answer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is thriving, marked by record attendance and viewership, and substantial growth in franchise valuations, reaching $23 billion in 2026. The league has adapted its Apple TV streaming deal, integrating all matches into the main Apple TV subscription from 2026, and is preparing for a historic schedule shift to a fall-to-spring calendar in 2027. Long-serving Commissioner Don Garber is set to retire at the end of 2026, with LAFC co-owner Larry Berg named as his successor, poised to lead MLS into its next era amidst the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
MLS Announces 10-Year Global Streaming Deal with Apple
Major League Soccer announces a groundbreaking 10-year media rights agreement with Apple, making Apple the exclusive destination for all MLS matches globally, beginning in 2023.
Lionel Messi Joins Inter Miami CF
Global football icon Lionel Messi signs with Inter Miami CF, a move that dramatically increases MLS's international visibility and commercial appeal.
LA Galaxy Wins MLS Cup 2024
The LA Galaxy defeats the New York Red Bulls 2-1 to clinch their record-extending sixth MLS Cup title at Dignity Health Sports Park.
MLS NEXT Announces Eight Expansion Teams for 2025-26 Season
MLS NEXT, the league's youth development platform, announces the addition of eight new expansion clubs, including Tulsa Greenwood SC, marking its presence in 34 states.
MLS Reports Record Fan Engagement for 2025 Season
Major League Soccer announces record ticketing revenue and the second-highest total attendance in league history for the 2025 regular season, with 11.2 million fans and an average of 21,988 per match. Viewership increased by 29% over 2024.
MLS Season Pass Integrated into Apple TV, Schedule Shift Announced
MLS and Apple announce that starting in 2026, all MLS matches will be included with a standard Apple TV subscription, discontinuing the separate MLS Season Pass. This move aims to increase accessibility and viewership. Simultaneously, the league confirms a shift to a fall-to-spring calendar starting in 2027.
Inter Miami CF Wins MLS Cup 2025
Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, secures their first MLS Cup title with a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium.
MLS Implements Sweeping Roster Rule Changes and Extended Transfer Windows
Major League Soccer announces significant amendments to its Roster Rules and Regulations, including removing limits on cash-for-player trades and intraleague loans, and extending transfer windows to align with international leagues.
MLS Unveils 2026 Marketing Campaign Amidst World Cup Year
MLS launches an expansive year-round fan engagement plan and marketing campaign, featuring Magic Johnson and MLS stars, designed to capitalize on the heightened global interest in soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MLS Opens 2026 Season with Record Attendance
Major League Soccer begins its 2026 season with the largest opening-day crowd in league history (75,673 fans for LAFC vs. Inter Miami CF), underscoring sustained commercial and cultural momentum.
MLS Innovations Adopted into FIFA Laws of the Game
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) votes to introduce two MLS-pioneered innovations, the Off-Field Treatment Rule and the Timed Substitution Rule, into the FIFA Laws of the Game, to be showcased at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MLS Introduces New Jersey Ad Space
MLS announces that club kits will feature advertisements on the lower back of their jerseys for the first time, providing a new revenue stream for teams.
MLS Viewership Soars 62% in Early 2026 Season
Major League Soccer reports a 62% year-over-year increase in live match viewership, averaging 7.9 million viewers per week through the first three months of the 2026 season, alongside strong attendance figures.
Don Garber to Retire, Larry Berg Named Next MLS Commissioner
Major League Soccer announces that Commissioner Don Garber will retire at the end of 2026 after 27 years, with Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg named as his successor, taking office in 2027. Garber will transition to Chairman of the league.
LA Galaxy Transfers Edwin Cerrillo to Club América
The LA Galaxy announces the transfer of midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, a key player in their 2024 MLS Cup championship run, to Liga MX side Club América.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Major League Soccer has undergone a period of unprecedented growth and strategic evolution, particularly in the years leading up to and including 2026. A pivotal moment came in 2022 with the announcement of a 10-year, $2.5 billion global streaming rights deal with Apple, which began in the 2023 season. This partnership aimed to centralize all MLS content on a single platform, initially through a standalone 'MLS Season Pass' subscription.
The arrival of global superstar Lionel Messi to Inter Miami CF in July 2023 proved to be a monumental turning point, significantly boosting the league's international profile, viewership, and commercial appeal. Messi's impact was immediate, contributing to Inter Miami's Leagues Cup victory in 2023 and an MLS Cup win in 2025.
By November 2025, the Apple TV deal saw a significant recalibration. Recognizing a need for broader accessibility, MLS and Apple announced that from the 2026 season, all MLS matches would be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost, discontinuing the separate MLS Season Pass. This adjustment, which also included an increased payment of $50 million from Apple to MLS through 2029, was aimed at expanding the league's reach and converting heightened global interest into sustained fandom.
The league's commercial momentum continued into 2026. MLS opened its 2026 season with record attendance, including the largest opening-day crowd in league history (75,673 for LAFC vs. Inter Miami CF). Through May 2026, MLS averaged 7.9 million live match viewers per week across all platforms, a 62% increase year-over-year, and averaged 22,109 fans per match, ranking as the second-highest average attendance in league history behind 2024. The combined value of MLS franchises reached $23 billion in 2026, with the average club valuation at $767 million, a 39% increase since 2021. This growth is partly attributed to a focus on soccer-specific stadiums and expanding revenue streams beyond matchday income.
Major structural changes are also underway. In January 2026, MLS implemented sweeping roster rule changes, including removing limits on cash-for-player trades and intraleague loans, and extending transfer windows to align with top international leagues. Furthermore, two MLS-pioneered innovations, the Off-Field Treatment Rule and the Timed Substitution Rule, were adopted into the FIFA Laws of the Game in February 2026 and will be showcased at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The league also announced a shift to a fall-to-spring calendar starting in 2027, preceded by a 'sprint' season, to better integrate with the global soccer schedule.
A significant leadership transition was announced in August 2026: Commissioner Don Garber, who has led the league since 1999, will retire at the end of the 2026 season. Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles FC, was named as his successor, taking over in 2027. Garber will transition to Chairman of the league, ensuring continuity during this critical period, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup being co-hosted by North America.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Major League Soccer (MLS) made different choices?