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15h ago

Larry Berg Named MLS Commissioner, Will Take Office Jan. 1, 2027

His early mandate is to run a shortened 2027 sprint season that prepares MLS for a July-to-May global calendar and to begin work on labor, roster and media-rights changes.

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Los Angeles FC co-managing owner Larry Berg poses in this undated handout picture. MLS/Handout via REUTERS
Jul 11, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC lead managing owner Larry Berg reacts at press conference at Banc of California Stadium Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles FC Hosts Banc Of Califorina Stadium Ribbon Cutting And Stadium Tour

Overview

  • MLS owners voted on Monday to appoint LAFC co-owner Larry Berg and he will become commissioner on January 1, 2027 while Don Garber remains commissioner through 2026 and then moves to league chairman.
  • League rules require Berg to divest his ownership stake in Los Angeles FC before assuming the commissioner role to prevent conflicts of interest.
  • Berg’s first operational task is to oversee a shortened February–May 2027 "sprint season" that will enable a shift to a July 2027–May 2028 wraparound schedule for future seasons.
  • The selection came from a formal succession process run by an owners’ committee with outside advisers and a supermajority vote, with former Fox executive David Nathanson reported as a finalist.
  • Berg’s private-equity and LAFC background matters because it signals possible emphasis on raising the league’s competitive quality and commercial value, which could affect club spending, TV revenue talks and upcoming collective bargaining negotiations.