NEW YORK — Major League Soccer is set for one of the most significant leadership transitions in its history, with club owners scheduled to vote for the league’s next commissioner on Monday, August 3, in New York City.
According to The Athletic, the race has narrowed to two finalists: LAFC co-owner Larry Berg and former Fox Sports executive David Nathanson, who also owns a minority stake in the Seattle Sounders. Both candidates are expected to deliver final presentations to the league’s Board of Governors before owners cast their votes. Under MLS rules, the successful candidate must secure a two-thirds supermajority.
The winner will become only the third commissioner in MLS history.
End of an era under Don Garber
Outgoing commissioner Don Garber has led MLS since 1999, overseeing the league’s transformation from a fledgling competition into one of the fastest-growing football properties in the world.
Although a successor is expected to be chosen next week, Garber is not anticipated to leave immediately. The 68-year-old is expected to remain involved during the transition period, with his current contract running through 2027.
His continued presence is designed to ensure stability as the league embarks on a series of structural reforms.
A commissioner facing major decisions
The incoming commissioner will inherit one of the busiest strategic agendas in league history.
MLS owners have already approved a switch to a fall-to-spring calendar, aligning the competition with Europe’s major leagues. The league is also redesigning its competition format to increase the number of meaningful matches throughout the season.
At the same time, MLS is evaluating significant changes to its roster and spending rules in an effort to improve overall playing quality and make clubs more competitive internationally.
Many of those reforms, however, will require negotiations with the MLS Players Association, whose current collective bargaining agreement runs until January 31, 2028.
Berg enters as the favorite
Sources familiar with the process believe Larry Berg enters Monday’s vote with strong support among club owners.
As co-chair of MLS’s Sporting and Competition Committee, Berg has played a central role in developing the league’s long-term “MLS 3.0” strategy. He also helped guide LAFC from its launch into one of the league’s flagship franchises.
Nathanson offers media expertise
His rival, David Nathanson, brings a very different profile.
The longtime Fox Sports executive led the network during the period in which it secured the U.S. broadcasting rights to the FIFA World Cup. That media experience is viewed as a major asset as MLS prepares for its next round of domestic media rights negotiations.
The league’s revised media agreement with Apple expires in the summer of 2029, making broadcast strategy one of the most important challenges awaiting the next commissioner.
Ownership stakes must be sold
Should either Berg or Nathanson be elected, both will be required to divest their ownership interests in their respective MLS clubs to avoid conflicts of interest.
While uncommon, the arrangement is not unprecedented in American sports. Former Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig previously served as owner and president of the Milwaukee Brewers before leading MLB for more than two decades.
With league-wide reforms, collective bargaining negotiations and the next media rights cycle all on the horizon, Monday’s vote is expected to shape the direction of MLS for years to come.