A committee of owners chaired by LAFC co-owner Bennett Rosenthal and Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam worked alongside Korn Ferry and The Miles Group to narrow down candidates as part of a succession plan. Other owners had not been formally informed of the list as of earlier this week, but discussion around the finalists was beginning to pick up at the board level.<\/p>\n
An MLS spokesperson provided a brief statement: \u201cMajor League Soccer\u2019s Board of Governors has been engaged in a comprehensive succession planning process. As part of that effort, a number of highly qualified individuals have been considered. The MLS Succession Committee is working with the Commissioner and the Board on this ongoing process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garber\u2019s contract runs through the end of 2027, but owners saw it as critical to begin a transition as early as possible, as the changeover in leadership comes at a critical point for MLS. Garber has said he intends to stay in his position until the end of his contract, but naming the new commissioner before that allows for a smooth handoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be in this office until 2027, and whether or not I\u2019m commissioner, we\u2019ll wait to see,\u201d Garber told Front Office Sports<\/a> on Thursday. \u201cThere is a succession process that is not only ongoing but I\u2019m supportive of it. I\u2019m embracing it. I feel great about it.\u201d<\/p>\n The league\u2019s collective bargaining agreement with the MLS Players Association ends in January 2028, and the negotiation with the MLSPA comes as owners have already started making significant changes to how MLS operates.<\/p>\n League owners voted last year to flip the calendar<\/a> beginning in 2027, which lines MLS up better with global transfer windows. The board also approved changes to the competition structure, which will impact both the regular season and postseason. MLS owners and executives are also studying major changes to its roster rules and regulations, specifically on how \u2014\u00a0and how much \u2014\u00a0teams will be able to spend on their senior rosters. Those changes will undoubtedly be tied to the new CBA. Notably, the agreement now expires in the middle of MLS\u2019s first summer-to-spring season in 2027-28.<\/p>\n \n Larry Berg, right, shakes hands with Gareth Bale upon the star\u2019s signing with LAFC in 2022 (Kirby Lee \/ USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n Berg is considered by some sources to be the favorite to replace Garber; however, MLS has seen more of a split at the board level on several key issues in recent years and those sources cautioned that there is no clear consensus on this vote.<\/p>\n The LAFC co-owner has been an active member of the board and co-chairs the sporting and competition committee, which handles high-profile sporting issues like roster rules and competition format.<\/p>\n Nathanson is a former Fox executive who oversaw the network\u2019s successful bid to win the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cup rights. He is a minority owner in the Seattle Sounders and a director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. His media background will no doubt be seen as a strength for a league that will be negotiating a media deal sooner than expected<\/a>. Several sources pointed to the media rights negotiation as a vital part of picking any new commissioner.<\/p>\n One of the key drivers of sports league revenue is media rights, and it\u2019s an area in which MLS has fallen behind its competition. The league is trying to get a better foothold not just in the domestic American sports marketplace, but also in the global football landscape. With increased competition on television from Liga MX, the Premier League and Champions League, as well as the German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga, MLS has struggled to convert its strong local and in-person stadium experience into a commanding national television audience.<\/p>\n![\"Gareth](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2022-07-11T232635Z_1516364881_MT1USATODAY18684718_RTRMADP_3_MLS-LOS-ANGELES-FC-PRESS-CONFERENCE-scal.jpeg\")
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