Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles Football Club, has been named the next commissioner of Major League Soccer following a vote by league owners in New York on Monday.
Berg emerged victorious from a two-man race, beating out former Fox executive David Nathanson to secure the sport’s top administrative role in the United States.
The appointment marks the end of a lengthy search process as the league looked to find a worthy successor to long-serving commissioner Don Garber.
Garber has held the commissioner role since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving executives in American professional sports history, but his contract is set to expire in 2027.
Berg’s journey with LAFC began in 2014 when he joined the club as a limited partner, before being elevated to managing owner just two years later.
He continued his rise within the franchise’s ownership structure, eventually becoming the lead managing owner at LAFC, a position that now raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.
With Berg now heading the entire league, there are legitimate questions about whether he will be permitted to retain his co-ownership stake in LAFC.
His professional background sits firmly in the financial and business world, having served as a senior partner at Apollo Global Management for 30 years starting in 1992.
Berg then transitioned to investment firm 26North as a partner in 2023, further underlining that his expertise is rooted in high-level business rather than traditional sports administration.
No official comment from Berg himself has been released in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, leaving many details about his vision for the league still unknown.
MLS has grown dramatically since Garber first took charge, expanding from a modest foundation into a competition that now attracts global talent and commands significant broadcasting deals.
Berg will inherit a league in strong health and will be expected to build on that momentum as the sport continues its upward trajectory across North America.
