As Major League Soccer (MLS) gears up for its championship match on Saturday, the league is focused on strategizing for future expansion in light of significant soccer events set to take place in the United States over the next two years.
Next year, the U.S. will host the FIFA Club World Cup, and in 2026, it will co-host the men’s World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. MLS Commissioner Don Garber emphasized the momentous opportunity for soccer in North America during a press conference on Friday, stating, “Over the next two years, North America will be the epicenter of global soccer. We have a remarkable opportunity to create great momentum and drive growth for our sport and league in the years ahead.”
Garber’s comments were made just before the MLS Cup final, where the LA Galaxy will face the New York Red Bulls in Carson, California. The postseason leading up to the final did not align with expectations. While Lionel Messi and Inter Miami topped the Eastern Conference and secured the Supporters’ Shield, the team was eliminated in the playoff’s opening round by Atlanta United. Similarly, the top seed in the Western Conference, LAFC, faced defeat against the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.
Garber noted, “The fact that Miami didn’t progress further in the playoffs is a reflection of the competitiveness present in Major League Soccer. We believe every game holds significance.” Despite the unexpected postseason outcome, Messi’s impact on MLS remains profound. The renowned 37-year-old Argentine World Cup champion, who has claimed the Ballon d’Or eight times, was recently recognized as the league’s MVP.
In his annual address regarding the state of the league, Garber discussed various topics, including MLS’s collaboration with Apple TV and the busy competition calendar ahead. The United States is set to host a larger Club World Cup from June 15 to July 13, which will feature clubs such as Inter Miami and the Sounders among a total of 38 teams. Matches will occur across 11 different U.S. cities, with Inter Miami kicking off the tournament against Al Ahly from Egypt at Hard Rock Stadium.
Moreover, next summer will see the introduction of the Leagues Cup, featuring both MLS and Liga MX teams, along with the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Garber confirmed that MLS clubs will also take part in the U.S. Open Cup. He mentioned, “(We) believe that tournament play is beneficial for clubs and fans alike, especially if we can manage the schedule with 30 teams participating in at least one tournament.” He further revealed that the league plans to pause during the 2026 World Cup and a segment of the Club World Cup next year.
When questioned about the potential shift to a European-style fall-to-spring calendar, Garber responded, “We need to approach any changes thoughtfully. We are exploring the possibility of such a transition, but it’s not ready for public discussion yet.”
Regarding media coverage, the league is nearing the conclusion of its second season partnering with Apple TV, which streams every match. However, Apple TV does not disclose viewership statistics, making it difficult to gauge audience growth. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes, and will also be available for free streaming on Apple TV, similar to several games throughout the season.
Garber acknowledged that MLS has room for improvement in communicating the availability of numerous weekly games without a subscription. He cited that a typical Saturday sees over a million viewers collectively tuning into MLS matches, with the demographic skewing younger, and fans end up watching an average of 65 minutes per game.
On the attendance front, the league reported a 5% rise in attendance compared to the previous year, totaling 11.45 million attendees, which is a 14% increase over 2022 before Messi’s arrival. The average attendance per match reached a league-record 23,234. Additionally, ten teams set or surpassed their attendance records, and the league experienced a record 213 sellouts, indicating strong fan engagement. Notably, even without Messi’s attendance, the average figures would still represent an all-time high for MLS.
