Major League Soccer's Future in Focus Post-world Cup 2026
WHO:
The New York Times - Major League Soccer (MLS) and its commissioner Don Garber are key figures in the discussion about the league's future.
BBC - 45 MLS players were represented at the 2026 World Cup, including Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.
BBC - Notable entertainers and athletes, including Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, and Magic Johnson, hold ownership stakes in MLS clubs.
WHAT:
The New York Times - MLS's national advertising campaign is described as the greatest effort in league history.
The New York Times - The league's major leadership change is occurring as commissioner Don Garber's contract ends in 2027, with a vote on his replacement expected soon.
The New York Times - The league's current rules prohibit teams from signing players with a total cap hit of more than $1.8 million unless they use a designated player spot.
BBC - MLS teams have failed to win 24 of the last 25 Concacaf Champions League/Champions Cup competitions.
BBC - MLS declared the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup a success despite its teams failing to qualify for the 2029 tournament.
BBC - The average age of new international players in MLS is now 23.8 years.
NY Post - The record-setting ratings for the World Cup indicate potential for growth within the sports-loving, multi-cultural population in the U.S.
The New York Times - MLS launched a national advertising campaign titled "Thanks, world, we’ll take it from here" to attract new fans after the World Cup.
The New York Times - MLS will implement a new summer-to-spring calendar and competition format starting in 2027.
The New York Times - MLS has added eight new teams and several new stadiums since winning the World Cup bid in 2018.
BBC - The average age of new international players in MLS is now 23.8 years.
BBC - The Seattle Sounders, an MLS team, is valued at more than $900 million, up from a $30 million expansion fee in 2009.
WHERE:
The New York Times - The league's return-to-play kickoff event took place in New York.
BBC - LA Galaxy hosted a viewing party for the US victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
WHEN:
The New York Times - MLS's major shifts, including the new competition format, will launch in 2027.
BBC - David Beckham's LA Galaxy contract included an option to buy an MLS expansion team in 2007.
WHY:
The New York Times - The league aims to evolve and capture more attention from a global media market.
BBC - MLS is changing its calendar to align more closely with European leagues to facilitate player movement.
HOW:
The New York Times - MLS is focused on building infrastructure and investing in youth development leagues.
BBC - MLS teams run youth academies to develop players, with scholarships available for talented individuals.
(UPDATED July 21, 2026 14:41 UTC)
Major League Soccer is launching its most ambitious national advertising campaign in league history, coinciding with significant leadership changes as commissioner Don Garber's contract is set to end in 2027, with a vote on his successor expected soon. Despite MLS teams struggling in international competitions, failing to win 24 of the last 25 Concacaf Champions League events, the league celebrated the success of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, even though its teams did not qualify for the 2029 tournament. The average age of new international players joining MLS is now 23.8 years, reflecting a youthful influx that aligns with the record-setting ratings for the World Cup, highlighting the potential for growth within the diverse sports-loving population in the U.S.
--
(UPDATED July 21, 2026 13:28 UTC)
Major League Soccer is making significant strides as it prepares for the future, with Commissioner Don Garber leading discussions on the league's evolution and a national advertising campaign titled "Thanks, world, we’ll take it from here" aimed at attracting new fans after the World Cup. Starting in 2027, MLS will implement a new summer-to-spring calendar and competition format, while also expanding with eight new teams and several new stadiums since winning the World Cup bid in 2018. The league is focused on building infrastructure and investing in youth development, with teams running academies that offer scholarships to talented young players, all while notable entertainers and athletes like Will Ferrell and Magic Johnson hold ownership stakes in various clubs.