MLS commissioner shares excitement for 30th season, 2026 World Cup
MIAMI — Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber believes the next two years will be a pivotal stretch for soccer in the United States.
The 2025 MLS season marks the league’s 30th season, where Lionel Messi will play another year with Inter Miami, the L.A. Galaxy are reigning champions once again, and San Diego FC will begin play as the 30th MLS franchise.
Along with the FIFA Club World Cup later this summer in the United States, and the FIFA World Cup next year co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, it’s an exciting time to be a soccer fan domestically and abroad.
‘I think the U.S. and North America will become even more important players on the global soccer football landscape,’ Garber told USA TODAY Sports and two other news outlets during the Miami premier of the AppleTV+ documentary ‘Onside: Major League Soccer,’ which will be released Friday.
‘The World Cup is going to raise the attention of the sport in ways that nobody ever dreamed of. And I tell people who don’t understand soccer or MLS, they have no idea how big the World Cup is going to be. … Just wait, it’s going to be epic.’
Before the world turns its attention to the World Cup, Garber is excited about the 30th season of MLS. The 2025 season begins Saturday when Messi and Inter Miami’s matchup against New York City FC headlines 13 games on the day. The Galaxy will host San Diego FC for the first MLS Sunday Night Soccer showcase.
The league has grown so much from its 20th anniversary and 25th season five years ago. Messi’s arrival in July 2023 has also elevated MLS into another stratosphere with his global recognition as the greatest to ever play the sport.
‘Leo Messi has really been a game changer for our league and for our sport, getting us recognition around the world,’ Garber said.
Almost every team has its own soccer-specific stadium, with Inter Miami’s Miami Freedom Park expected to open in 2026 and New York City FC’s Etihad Stadium slated to open in 2027 – which Garber believes will be transformational for the sport.
‘I think our league is going to continue to grow. Every time I’m asked that question, and I say, ‘here’s what it will look like five years from now.’ I underestimate where we’re going to be. So, I don’t know whether we’ll have more teams. I think we’ll have more fans,’ Garber said.
‘At some point we’re going to be, you know, celebrating just generations of Major League Soccer for fans here in the United States, Canada and around the world that love our league.’
Still, MLS has plenty to work on to continue competing with the top leagues in the world like the English Premier League, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, Bundesliga in Germany and Ligue 1 in France.
For one, MLS is still mulling over changing its calendar to a fall/spring format instead of the current format where teams play a February-to-December schedule unlike the rest of the world.
‘We don’t have a timetable for assignment. It’s clear to me that the rest of the world plays on one calendar for the most part for a reason, and it would be great as we get closer to aligning with the rest of the world,’ Garber said.
‘Having an adoption of the international calendar seems rational, but we’ve got a lot of mountains to climb, a lot of issues that we need to deal with. We’re dealing with those issues internally. I don’t think this should be a negative for anyone. It should be a net positive for all, and we’ve got to figure out how to make that happen.’
Garber was also asked about recent news that the United Soccer League is hoping to launch its own top-tier league in the United States that could compete with MLS in 2027.
‘We’ve been building soccer at the highest level for 30 years, and I’m excited about how we’ve led the growth of professional soccer and helped empower it on the women’s side, but certainly have led it on the men’s side. So, any opportunity to build the sport professionally is positive,’ Garber said when asked about the USL.
‘You know, I’ve said this many, many times: fans determine what teams they care about. Sponsors and broadcasters determine what properties matter to them, and to their viewers, and to their customers. So, all of us are going to do what we can to build the best possible product. And I look forward to seeing how it plays out over the next number of years.’
For now, Garber has his eyes set on leading MLS again for his 26th year in charge. He recently signed an extension to remain as MLS commissioner through 2027.
And he’s eager to see the new heights MLS could reach this season.
‘Another year, another level of excitement,’ Garber said.