MLS Commissioner Suggests Major Structural Shift as Promotion and Relegation Debate Re-Emerges

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has left the door open to the possibility of introducing promotion and relegation in the future, signalling a notable softening of the league’s long-held stance on the subject.

Garber, 68, spoke to the media in Washington, D.C. on Thursday during his annual State of the League address. The briefing, typically hosted in the MLS Cup’s host city, was moved to coincide with activities surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.

Despite historically dismissing the concept, the Commissioner struck a different tone when asked about promotion and relegation as MLS concludes its 30th season — its first featuring 30 clubs across the United States and Canada — ahead of Saturday’s final between Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

“There’s no real point saying ‘never’, because none of us knows what the future will look like,” Garber said. “I certainly never imagined we would align with the international calendar.”
MLS is set to transition to a winter-based schedule beginning with the 2027–28 campaign, bringing it in line with major global leagues.

He added that a future shift could depend heavily on the continued growth of the lower divisions:
“Perhaps as the development of the lower leagues continues, and if they form a proper ecosystem, something could change. Right now, I don’t believe that system exists — but who knows? I’ve learnt to never say never. That doesn’t mean promotion and relegation is coming any time soon.”

MLS Stance Shaped by Investment and League Structure

Since its inception in 1996 with 10 teams, MLS has consistently resisted adopting a promotion-relegation model. Expansion has become a financial cornerstone of the league’s growth, with clubs paying increasingly substantial fees — the most recent, San Diego FC, joining for a record US$500 million.

Additionally, MLS’s single-entity system requires club owners to make extensive long-term investments in stadiums, training centres and infrastructure. The prospect of relegation, which could significantly devalue these investments, remains a major deterrent.

USL Moves Towards Promotion and Relegation

While MLS maintains caution, the United Soccer League (USL) appears poised to implement the system first. The USL has announced plans to launch a Division I league for the 2027–28 season that will feature promotion and relegation.

However, progress has stalled due to an ongoing labour dispute between Championship-level owners and the USL Players Association. The union has called for higher professional standards across the league’s 24 teams, all currently classified as Division II under U.S. Soccer.

Garber Approaches the End of His MLS Tenure

If promotion and relegation were ever adopted in MLS, Garber would almost certainly no longer be the one overseeing the transition. The New York-born Commissioner, who has led the league since 1999, signed an extension in 2024 to remain in office through 2027 — the final year before MLS adopts its new calendar.

“For now, my focus is on the next few years,” Garber said. “At the right time, I’ll sit down with MLS ownership and discuss the future.

“I didn’t renew my last contract with the calendar change in mind — we had no idea at the time that such a shift would happen. But we’ll sort everything out when the moment comes.”