Major League Soccer is down to three finalists to succeed commissioner Don Garber, multiple outlets reported Friday.
The candidates are Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg, 49ers Enterprises president Paraag Marathe and David Nathanson, a former Fox executive, the outlets said, citing multiple sources.
“Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors has been engaged in a comprehensive succession planning process,” a representative for MLS said in a statement to Sportico. “As part of that effort, a number of highly qualified individuals have been considered. The MLS succession committee is working with the commissioner and the Board on this ongoing process.”
Garber, 68, is nearing the end of his third decade as commissioner, holding the job since August 1999. Only NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has served longer among the major U.S. leagues, assuming office in February 1993.
Garber is under contract through the end of the 2027 season, but the shift in the league calendar to follow the international calendar could alter the expiration date.
In 2025, the league formed a succession committee, led by LAFC co-owner Bennett Rosenthal and Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam, to determine a plan to succeed Garber. Consultant Korn Ferry was brought in to lead the search for candidates.
Each of the three reported finalists would bring a different skillset to the job.
Berg has held his ownership stake in LAFC since 2018, giving him inside knowledge of the MLS operations. He comes from the world of finance, holding an MBA from Harvard Business School and 30 years of experience at Apollo Global Management.
Marathe is the chairman of Leeds United of the English Premier League, and the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers owns that club. He has been with the 49ers organization for 25 years and formerly served as president of the NFL team.
Nathanson’s experience in media would be beneficial with in negotiating the next round of television and streaming rights. At Fox, he led the effort as the network gained the rights to the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cup. He is a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders and a director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation.
The commissioner-elect is expected to work with Garber, who has overseen the expansion of MLS from 12 to 30 teams, during the transition.
–Field Level Media
