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MLS Owners Poised to Vote on New Commissioner as League Moves to July–May Calendar

Owners plan a vote next week to select a successor who will lead a calendar shift and efforts to turn World Cup attendance and ratings gains into sustained growth.

Soccer Football - Major League Soccer - Inter Miami CF v Austin FC - Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S. - April 4, 2026 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Marco Bello
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A man with gray hair and a white shirt under a black jacket sits on a white couch, looking to the side, Image 2 shows A man with a shaved head and beard, wearing a suit and tie, gesturing while speaking into a lapel microphone, Image 3 shows Arthur M. Blank smiling

Overview

  • League owners and a succession committee have narrowed finalists to Larry Berg and David Nathanson and are preparing an owners' vote that could take place as soon as next week and requires a two‑thirds supermajority.
  • Don Garber has confirmed he will remain under contract through 2027 to help the transition while the new commissioner prepares to take on long‑term commercial and sporting reforms.
  • MLS has formally approved a two‑step calendar change with a shortened 14‑game early 2027 season followed by a full July 2027–May 2028 campaign and playoffs in May 2028.
  • The league says the 2026 World Cup produced a sharp bump in demand with ticket sales up roughly 58–62% and TV ratings up about 40–50%, figures the league plans to use to pursue higher media rights and sponsorship deals.
  • Owners are also discussing broader changes such as swapping the two‑conference format for a single table with five geographic divisions and tweaking roster and salary rules to reward player development and align MLS with global transfer windows.