Larry Berg named Major League Soccer commissioner

Larry Berg has been named the next commissioner of Major League Soccer, according to a source familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Berg will take the helm from longtime commissioner Don Garber next year. Garber will stay on in an emeritus role through the end of his contact at the end of 2027.

Berg is currently co-owner of MLS’ Los Angeles Football Club, though he will have to sell his stake upon becoming commissioner, according to the person familiar. Berg was formerly a senior partner at Apollo Global Management.

Garber, aged 68, has held the commissioner position since 1999, transforming the league from a struggling startup into a multibillion-dollar sports league. In CNBC’s Official Global Soccer Team Valuations 2026, MLS franchises made up seven of the top 30 most valuable franchises in the world, led by Inter Miami at $1.6 billion.

Among Berg’s first major challenges will be negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with MLS players. The current agreement expires at the end of January 2028.

He will also oversee the league’s next media rights negotiations after its deal with Apple expires following the 2028-2029 season.