MLS

Who owns MLS?
MLS operates under a single-entity structure where the league owns all 30 teams and controls player contracts. Investor-operators purchase operating rights to individual clubs. Soccer United Marketing (SUM) serves as the league's commercial arm. Don Garber has served as Commissioner since 1999.

What is MLS's annual revenue?
MLS generated approximately $2.5 billion in total revenue across its 30 clubs in 2025, averaging $83 million per team. A record seven teams exceeded $100 million in revenue. Inter Miami led the league with over $200 million in local revenue, driven by Lionel Messi's presence.

Who won the 2025 MLS Cup?
Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, won the 2025 MLS Cup, the franchise's first championship. Messi signed a contract extension through 2028 in October 2025. Inter Miami is the most valuable MLS franchise at $1.45 billion.

What is MLS's media rights deal with Apple?
MLS signed a 10-year deal with Apple in 2023, originally valued at a minimum of $250 million per year. The amended partnership will pay MLS $200 million for 2026, $107.5 million for the shortened 2027 season, and $275 million each for 2027-28 and 2028-29. All matches stream on MLS Season Pass through Apple TV. The league re-enters the media rights market in 2029.

How much did San Diego FC pay to join MLS?
San Diego FC paid a $500 million expansion fee to join MLS as the 30th franchise, with Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour as the lead investor. The club debuted in 2025, finished first in the Western Conference with a record 63 points for an expansion team, and ranked fourth in attendance. Sportico values San Diego FC at $765 million.

Will MLS expand beyond 30 teams?
Commissioner Don Garber stated in July 2026 that he does not anticipate MLS expanding beyond 32 teams, citing schedule constraints. The league's next two expansion franchises are being positioned as the final opportunities to buy into MLS, which could push expansion fees beyond the $500 million San Diego FC paid.

Who will replace Don Garber as MLS Commissioner?
MLS is in the advanced stages of selecting its next commissioner. The field was narrowed in July 2026 to two candidates: LAFC co-managing owner Larry Berg and former Fox Sports executive David Nathanson. Garber's contract runs through the 2027 season, and he has said he plans to remain for the "foreseeable future."

Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' commitment to FIFA to establish a top-tier professional soccer league following the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The league was established by Alan Rothenberg, who led the U.S. World Cup organizing committee, with early investors including Lamar Hunt (Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting Kansas City) and Robert Kraft (New England Revolution).

The inaugural 1996 season featured 10 teams, with D.C. United winning the first MLS Cup. The league struggled financially in its early years, with several franchises folding (Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, and San Jose Clash rebranding). MLS contracted from 12 to 10 teams in 2001 before gradually expanding.

Don Garber became Commissioner in 1999, replacing Doug Logan. Garber's tenure has overseen the league's transformation from a struggling startup to a major professional sports league. Under Garber, MLS expanded from 12 to 30 teams, developed soccer-specific stadiums, and established the Designated Player Rule in 2007, which allowed teams to sign high-profile players outside the salary cap. The rule was created to accommodate David Beckham's transfer to the LA Galaxy and has since brought stars including Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lionel Messi to MLS.

The 2010s and 2020s saw rapid expansion. MLS grew from 16 teams in 2010 to 30 teams by 2025. New franchises commanded increasing expansion fees: Seattle Sounders paid $30 million in 2009, New York City FC paid $100 million in 2013, and San Diego FC paid $500 million in 2023. The league also launched MLS Next Pro in 2022 as a third-tier developmental league.

In 2023, Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, transforming the franchise and the league's global profile. Messi's arrival drove record attendance, sponsorship revenue, and international viewership. Inter Miami's local revenues topped $200 million in 2025, and the franchise became the first MLS team to surpass $1 billion in value. Messi signed a contract extension through 2028.

MLS signed a 10-year media rights deal with Apple in 2023, valued at a minimum of $250 million per year, with all matches streaming on MLS Season Pass through Apple TV. In 2025, MLS and Apple amended the partnership to end three and a half years earlier than originally planned. MLS will be paid $200 million for the 2026 season, $107.5 million for the shortened 2027 season, and $275 million each for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. The league will re-enter the media rights market in 2029.

The 2026 season will take a six-week break to accommodate the FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. MLS is making its largest-ever marketing investment during the World Cup to convert casual fans into league followers. MLS will be well represented at the tournament, with the sixth-most players by league, behind only the Big Five European leagues.

Commissioner Garber has indicated MLS will transition to a summer-to-spring calendar format as part of his "MLS 3.0 vision," aligning with the global soccer calendar. The switch is expected to strengthen MLS clubs' global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and allow playoffs to take center stage without interruption from international competitions.

MLS does not publish a standalone sustainability report aligned with GRI or SASB standards. The league operates MLS WORKS, its social responsibility platform, focusing on community engagement, youth soccer access, and social justice initiatives.

Individual clubs have implemented various environmental initiatives at their stadiums, but these are not coordinated at the league level. The league is not a Certified B Corporation and has not committed to league-wide carbon neutrality targets.

MLS has faced several controversies and challenges:

The single-entity structure has been the subject of legal challenges. In 2010, a group of players filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that MLS's single-entity structure violated antitrust laws by suppressing player salaries. The case was dismissed, and the dismissal was upheld on appeal in 2015, but the structure remains controversial among player advocates who argue it limits player compensation compared to free-market systems in other leagues.

The revenue disparity between top and bottom clubs has become a significant issue. Inter Miami's $200 million in local revenue compared to Vancouver, Montreal, and Colorado's $35 million to $40 million range has created tension among owners. A group of owners wants revamped roster rules to allow higher spending, while others prefer the current salary cap system that promotes competitive parity. The tension mirrors debates in other American sports leagues but is more pronounced in MLS due to the lack of substantial national media revenue.

The Apple media rights deal has drawn criticism for accessibility. Unlike traditional broadcast deals that make games available on free or cable television, MLS Season Pass requires an Apple TV+ subscription. Some fans and media analysts have argued this has reduced the league's visibility compared to when matches were available on ESPN, Fox, and local networks.

Attendance declined 5% in 2025 after a record 2024 season. Nineteen of 30 teams recorded year-over-year attendance declines. While overall matchday revenue increased 10% due to premium seating growth, the attendance dip raised questions about whether the league's rapid expansion is outpacing demand in some markets.

The league's relationship with the USL Championship (second-tier) and MLS Next Pro (third-tier) has created a complex pyramid structure that is still evolving. Promotion and relegation, standard in global soccer, does not exist in MLS, which has been criticized by traditional soccer fans but defended by the league as necessary for financial stability and investor confidence.