MLS is living through a turning point few people could have imagined thirty years ago, and commissioner Don Garber made no attempt to hide that in his speech in Washington. For him, the 2026 World Cup will push the league and soccer in North America to levels never seen before, something comparable to the impact of 1994, when the tournament sparked the creation of MLS itself. And looking at the numbers, the growing crowds and the steady expansion, it is hard to disagree. The league knows it is stepping into a new era.
A league that became a protagonist without waiting for permission
Garber recalled that the 1994 World Cup was a watershed moment when he said it “captivated the imagination of our entire country and sparked a movement for soccer across North America.” He also emphasized that the tournament laid the foundation for the league created two years later, in 1996. Today, he sees 2026 as another milestone capable of pushing MLS to an even higher level. It makes sense. The league has grown to 30 clubs with the arrival of San Diego FC, expanded its fan base, and ridden the global impact of Messi, Müller and other stars who changed the way international audiences view MLS.
The partnership with Apple also stood out in his remarks. Garber reinforced that, starting in 2026, all matches will be available on Apple TV and said working with the company “will significantly enhance the experience and add value for our fans.” In practice, MLS has stepped into a global distribution ecosystem that delivers every match, on any device, in more than 100 countries. This already shows up in last season’s numbers, when the league drew more than 12 million fans to stadiums and saw nearly a 30 percent increase in broadcast viewership.
The future is approaching faster than MLS expected
Garber stressed that the current landscape is completely different from the days when the league launched with 10 teams scattered across makeshift stadiums. He reminded everyone that “when we started, there were no soccer-specific stadiums in the United States” and pointed out that there are now 26 across the U.S. and Canada, with new venues set to open in Miami, New York and Chicago. Total investment already exceeds 11 billion dollars, and that is only the beginning. The MLS 3.0 strategy, announced recently, aims to turn the league into an even more competitive product, with greater investment in young players, improved roster-building mechanisms and active participation in the World Cup cycle.
Garber described the move to a fall-to-spring calendar as “one of the most important decisions in our history,” a change designed to align MLS with the international schedule and reduce conflicts with FIFA dates. According to him, the shift “will elevate our level in the playoffs and open new commercial opportunities.” It is a profound adjustment that places MLS on the same rhythm as some of the strongest leagues in the world.
If 1994 marked the starting line, 2026 looks ready to mark the breakthrough. MLS is no longer a supporting act in the region and has left behind the image of a retirement league. The presence of global stars, the construction of modern stadiums and the surge in fan engagement show that soccer has finally secured a permanent place in the country. Garber summed up the moment by saying “we are living in the most exciting period for the sport that we could have ever imagined, at every level.” And honestly, it is hard to disagree. MLS has entered the global conversation. Now the question is how far it can go.