- Says 2026 World Cup to eclipse record-setting 1994 event
- Garber identifies youth development as a key priority
- "MLS can be one of the top leagues in the world"
With the 2026 World Cup less than 10 months away and MLS celebrating its 30th season, Don Garber outlined his vision for maximizing next year’s tournament – co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S. – for positive effect on soccer in North America.
The MLS Commissioner underscored the importance of channeling the energy and excitement around the tournament into permanent improvements in the American soccer ecosystem. Noting that the 1994 World Cup sparked the formation of MLS, Garber said 2026 edition will surpass its predecessor’s record-setting metrics.
“I think it’s more interest overall in the game, right?” Garber said on the US Soccer podcast. “Whether it’s the men’s World Cup or the women’s World Cup, we still as a sport are trying to find our way. Where are the big moments that can break through, so that, you know, we’re talking about culturally. In the late night talk shows, or at the water cooler or throughout social media and MLS. Or when it’s a women’s World Cup – I’m sure the NWSL will feel the same way – well, we’re the center part of that conversation.
“So I don’t think there’s any shortage of interest in the game, where the ’94 World Cup was the most successful World Cup of all time, and it’ll be eclipsed by the ’26 World Cup. But how do we connect all that with those that are really trying to build the game for a better future? Better opportunities with professional players, more opportunities for youth players, perhaps less pay to play, better infrastructure, both of the youth level and at the professional level.”
Garber said the best measure of achievement will be the halo effect, converting temporary enthusiasm into permanent growth for domestic leagues, particularly MLS.
“I think the overall interest in the World Cup is going to help drive that,” he said. “All the research we’ve done is every time there’s been a World Cup in the modern era…. those domestic leagues have grown by 15 to 20 percent in overall interest…. I expect people will become more interested in MLS, but how do we get somebody who’s engaging with a national team celebration to now be a fan of one of our clubs?
“And that’s just work. We’ve got to do the work. We’ve got to have great fans-fests. We’ve got to have great contact. We’ve got to link our players that are playing for their national teams. We have to put MLS in the middle of the conversation. And if we do that, I think overall the league will ultimately benefit. And it won’t be a Taylor Swift concert. I worry about that – you just don’t want it to be something big. You want it to be something big, long-lasting and legacy-making and meaningful.”
Speaking about long-term objectives, Garber evaluated MLS’s current position against international rivals and identified strengths established within the North American soccer landscape. He referenced the massive attention MLS and LAFC have benefited from after the recent signing of former Tottenham legend Son Heung-Min.
“I do believe that MLS can be one of the top leagues in the world, if not top league of the world,” he said. “You see what’s going on now, just signing Son… you know some of the better players in the world want to be here. Question is, when do we have them here? Some of the best young American players, young Canadian players coming up, want to be here. Some of them stay, some of them get sold on, just like the rest of the world. Our facilities are among the best in the world.”
Garber said a major factor in the league’s evolution will be continued investment and revenue generation.
“So what we’re really missing is, how could we compete on the field against the best clubs in the world? And that’s really just about money. It’s just about how big an MLS be from a business perspective to generate enough revenue to be able to do what all leagues do, which is pay players the vast majority of the money you earn.
“And if we’re able to do that, able to create a dynamic where MLS is a much bigger enterprise, I think just based on how good it is to live in our country, how popular our culture is…. I see no reason why our league can’t be a dominant league. I really don’t. I think the only thing holding us back is our ability to fund salary budgets that they could fund at the top levels in the five, six top European leagues. “
The formation of Major League Soccer was directly tied to the United States’ bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. MLS has since expanded to 30 teams, making it one of the biggest leagues in world soccer.
MLS is considering a schedule shift to better align with FIFA’s international calendar. At last month’s MLS All-Star Game, Garber indicated that there is increasing momentum. The league had previously said no change would take affect until at least 2027.
“If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen after the 2026 World Cup,” Garber said. “So making this change is seismic. It’s not something we should do lightly. We obviously have teams across multiple climate zones, multiple time zones, unlike any other league in the world. And if we do make the change, we’re not going to go back on that decision.
“There are a number of key benefits to it. Aligning with the world standard, we think, is important for our brand as we try to continue to engage as one of the important, influential leagues in the world. We want to align with on the calendar to be able to be even more engaged on the player transfer market.”
