MLS's incoming commissioner Larry Berg faces an extensive to-do list as he prepares to take over from Don Garber, whose 28-year tenure ends this year. Berg, who officially begins the role on 1 January, used his first press conference to outline an ambitious vision for the league, though he deferred detailed questions about broadcasting strategy to the outgoing Garber, underscoring how much remains unresolved before the handover.

Chief among Berg's challenges is charting the league's broadcast future once its Apple streaming deal, worth an initial $250m a year, concludes after the 2028-29 season; ancillary content and camera coverage have reportedly diminished since the partnership began in 2023, and viewership data remains scarce, with Garber citing roughly 120,000 unique viewers per game as of July 2025. Berg, who previously led MLS's sporting and competition committee, also wants to evolve roster rules to raise the on-field standard, aiming to capitalise on heightened interest following the 2026 World Cup, which set viewership records for soccer in the US.