MLS Commissioner Don Garber spoke about how the league plans to capitalize on the World Cup and what future growth could look like as the summer tournament nears its conclusion, according to a Q&A by Benjamin Wilhem of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: During this World Cup there’s been a lot of talk about whether soccer has finally become a mainstream sport in the U.S. You said it would be “rocket fuel” for soccer and MLS. Given the tournament and TV ratings, what would you say about the sport’s standing in the U.S.?
Garber: “The World Cup has over-delivered on everyone’s expectations, on and off the field. The games have been spectacular and connected with hardcore fans, but also a much broader market of people caught up in the thrill of victory and agony of defeat. There’s more social media buzz, media coverage and higher ratings than we remotely expected when we won the bid in 2018. I believe it’s been rocket fuel for the sport, setting the stage for where we, as a sport and a league, can go. It showed there’s a huge market here.”
Q: Looking at MLS after the World Cup, where do you hope to see growth in the near term?
Garber: “We knew in 2018 that this World Cup was coming here. People ask what we are going to do after the final, but for us it started eight years ago. We added seven teams and built nine stadiums, aiming to have them operating when new fans could experience an environment similar to the World Cup. We changed roster rules to sign exciting young players and engage more in the transfer market. And we built a league that Lionel Messi, who I consider the best player in the world, chose, making Miami his team of choice. It is not about tomorrow; it is about the eight years leading up to today.”
Q: You call the next era MLS 3.0. MLS 2.0 focused on expansion, infrastructure and global talent. What do you hope to achieve in this third iteration?
Garber: “After years of building and focusing on infrastructure, it is now about creating a league that can be more competitive with the rest of the world. The first move is playing to the same calendar. We also have to rethink roster rules so teams have more flexibility to sign a World Cup player or make a major investment in a young player. We might expand the Leagues Cup or focus more on the Concacaf Champions Cup, giving more teams the chance to compete globally at the Club World Cup. The foundation is built. Now, how do we take the league further and become one of the top competitions in the world? The focus will be more on the product on the field” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/17).
