A New Commissioner with a Private‑Equity Playbook
Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday that Larry Berg, a private‑equity professional and co‑owner of Los Angeles FC, will assume the role of commissioner on January 1, 2027, succeeding Don Garber, who has steered the league since its inception in 1998.
Berg’s ascent comes after a decade of ownership success with LAFC, a club he helped launch in 2014 and guide to an MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double. His experience on the league’s Sporting and Competition Committee, where he championed the upcoming calendar shift, positions him to drive structural changes.
Central to Berg’s agenda is a proposed shift from the traditional fall‑to‑spring schedule, a move he says will align MLS more closely with global soccer rhythms and capitalize on the heightened interest generated by the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.
The transition also arrives amid labor negotiations with the MLS Players Association, whose current collective bargaining agreement expires on January 31, 2028, and the impending expiration of the league’s Apple TV media‑rights deal in 2029. Berg has pledged to prioritize revenue growth through enhanced transfer markets and strategic partnerships.
While Berg envisions MLS climbing to become the third‑most popular sport in the United States within five to ten years, he remains cautious about adopting a Europe‑style promotion‑relegation system, citing financial risks to clubs and owners.
He also plans to divest his stake in LAFC to fully focus on the commissioner role, emphasizing collaboration with owners, players and supporters to deepen domestic and international engagement.