Incoming Major League Soccer commissioner Larry Berg stated that promotion and relegation—a competitive structure used by most soccer leagues worldwide—will not be introduced to MLS in the near future. During his first press conference, Berg outlined his reasoning: such a system would discourage stadium investment, hinder facility development, and diminish owners' willingness to invest heavily in player rosters and team operations.

Berg's position reflects MLS's longstanding structure and history. The league operates through a single-entity model where the central office holds ownership rights to all franchises and player contracts, a system designed to minimise financial risk for early investors. MLS has experienced significant growth from 10 teams at its inception to 30 teams in 2026, but Berg indicated the league prefers to maintain competitive intensity through existing mechanisms—regular season play and playoffs—rather than adopting structural reforms like promotion and relegation.