Messi Has Brought 'Transformational Year' For MLS Says Garber

Lionel Messi shakes hands with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup final in August - AFP
Lionel Messi shakes hands with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup final in August - AFP
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Messi Has Brought 'Transformational Year' For MLS Says Garber

Lionel Messi shakes hands with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup final in August - AFP
Lionel Messi shakes hands with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after defeating Nashville to win the Leagues Cup final in August - AFP

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says his league has enjoyed a "transformational year" crediting the arrival of Lionel Messi and the broadcast deal with Apple TV for unprecedented interest.

But while he said North America would become the "epicenter" of the game with the World Cup, Copa America and FIFA Club World Cup all coming to the region, Garber acknowledged squeezing in all the club and country competitions was a headache.

In his annual "state of the league" address ahead of Saturday's MLS Cup final between Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC, Garber said MLS was trending upwards in all key areas.

"Lionel Messi had many options for the next chapter of his iconic soccer career. The magnitude of his decision to join MLS cannot be over-stated," Garber said.

"A World Cup champion, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is playing in our league. We're not just part of the global conversation of sports but one of the biggest stories in the world, certainly one of the biggest stories this summer," added Garber, AFP reported.

Messi's arrival early in a new 10-year global streaming deal with Apple TV meant "more fans watch MLS games here and around the world than ever before" said Garber, without revealing overall audience figures from Apple.

MLS has also seen rising numbers of fans in stadiums across the country with the derby between Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy attracting a league record 82,110 to the Rose Bowl on July 4.

Garber said there had been a record of "nearly 12 million fans" at MLS games throughout the year and also hailed the new Leagues Cup, held jointly with clubs from Mexico's Liga MX, as a "smashing success".

The tournament in the middle of the MLS regular season was won by Messi and Inter Miami and the World Cup-style format won over my skeptics.

"It was a success on every measure and as with so many things this year went on to exceed so many of our expectations. It is only the beginning. This is a tournament which will continue to grow in scale, in scope and reach in the years ahead," he said.

But the addition of Leagues Cup games comes into a calander that will be squeezed by the major tournaments coming to the USA in the coming years.

Next year will see the USA host the Copa America before the new, expanded 32-team, FIFA Club World Cup is held in the country a year ahead of the World Cup itself, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.

"For the next few years, North America will be the epicenter for the beautiful game," he said.

But with the Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, the US Open Cup as well as the regular season and the playoffs, fitting all the games in while protecting players from burn-out remains a challenge.

Garber said MLS would not stop play during Copa America saying they could not afford to halt their season but would have to be "creative" with their schedule.

MLS usually plays through the regional CONCACAF Gold Cup but Garber said there was no question of the league continuing during the World Cup.



FIFA Announces Details to Apply for World Cup Tickets

 13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
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FIFA Announces Details to Apply for World Cup Tickets

 13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: US President Donald Trump (R) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the trophy during the award ceremony following the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium. (dpa)

Applications for tickets for the 2026 World Cup open Sept. 10, FIFA said Tuesday.

The next edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11.

Soccer's world governing body FIFA said that due to anticipated high demand tickets would be released in phases.

It did not say if it would use dynamic pricing, as was the case for the Club World Cup, which saw ticket prices fluctuate wildly.

"We’re looking forward to welcoming the world back to North America, as Canada, Mexico and the United States host what will be the biggest and greatest sporting event ever," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. "We encourage fans everywhere to get ready to secure their place — these will be the most coveted seats in world sport."