Larry Berg to Succeed Don Garber as MLS Commissioner

To assume the league’s top office, Berg must divest his stake in LAFC. His background includes a tenure as a senior partner at Apollo Global Management, a corporate pivot that now moves him from club ownership to the regulatory and commercial oversight of the entire league. Garber’s departure marks the end of an era during which he steered MLS from a fragile startup toward its current status as a multibillion-dollar entity, evidenced by seven franchises appearing on the 2026 CNBC global valuation list.

Berg faces an immediate and demanding agenda. He must navigate the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the players' union before the current deal expires in January 2028. Beyond personnel matters, he holds responsibility for the league's next major media rights cycle, which begins once the current partnership with Apple concludes after the 2028-2029 season.