tHailed because the ‘Don’ of Main League Soccer (MLS), Don Garber, has signed a contract extension, with the league’s Board of Governors electing to maintain him till the top of 2027.
The 67-year-old, who not too long ago celebrated his twenty fifth anniversary on the high of the MLS meals chain, had been in talks about his contract extension for some time. Because of the exemplary work he has carried out since taking on the league in 1999, Garber was all the time prone to get the deal of his goals. On Wednesday, December 4, MLS formally confirmed that Garber had put pen to paper.
“The announcement of Commissioner Garber’s contract extension comes at a time of super momentum for soccer in North America,” MLS introduced.
Don Garber Is Seen because the Savior of MLS
Garber took over the American high flight at its lowest, at a time when its very existence got here below query. However because of his 16-year run with the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL), Garber didn’t succumb to the strain.
Beneath his tutelage, MLS has expanded from 12 groups to 30, with San Diego paying a whopping $500 million growth payment to hitch the league in 2025. The typical worth of an MLS membership has climbed to a whopping $678 million, with 4 golf equipment crossing the $1 billion landmark. The league additionally boasts wonderful academies, some world-class stadiums, and legendary gamers, together with essentially the most achieved soccer participant of all time, Lionel Messi.
Most notably, Garber performed a decisive function in bringing the FIFA World Cup to america, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, bringing the three nations and MLS to the forefront of soccer.
“Our aim is to double our fan base and to try this by the years after the World Cup,” Garber advised The Athletic.
“And it’s not going to be anyone issue. It’s not going to be simply Leo Messi coming into the league, it’s not going to be the subsequent massive participant who indicators. It’s by no means been about doing it the simple manner. I feel it’s lazy to suppose that one participant goes to assist us ship on what we wish MLS to be over the subsequent three to 5 years.”
Garber has large plans for MLS, and his observe document, it might be silly to guess in opposition to him.