Larry Berg to become MLS's third commissioner
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- Larry Berg was selected by MLS owners in New York on Monday to become the league's third commissioner, with Garber remaining commissioner through 2026 before transitioning to a chairman role on January 1, 2027.
- Don Garber has held the position since 1999, growing the league from 10 to 30 clubs and overseeing the development of 26 soccer stadiums during his 27-year tenure.
- Berg must divest his LAFC shares as part of the deal; he has been part of the club's ownership group since its expansion entry and helped turn it into a league force.
- Berg's résumé includes time at Apollo Global Management and McGraw-Hill Education, and he currently co-chairs MLS's Sporting & Competition Committee, which gave him heavy involvement in league initiatives.
- The MLS Succession Committee — co-chaired by Jimmy Haslam and Bennett Rosenthal and staffed with Cliff Illig, John Ingram, Jonathan Kraft, Joe Mansueto, and Oliver Mintzlaff — narrowed the field to Berg and David Nathansen, working with advisory firm Korn Ferry.
- Berg inherits a loaded agenda: a move to a European calendar in late 2027 following a February-to-May sprint season, an expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement, and a looming TV deal.
Why it matters: Berg steps into a league transitioning from Garber's 27-year stabilization era into a period of structural resets — calendar realignment, CBA, and TV deal all converging in 2027. His LAFC ownership and existing committee roles make him a continuity pick rather than a disruptor, which is what most owners likely wanted heading into the post-2026 World Cup growth window.
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