MLS Commissioner Don Garber is in the final years of his contract, but is bullish on the future of the American top flight after Inter Miami won the 2025 MLS Cup, completing its 30th season.

Garber tailored his messaging to the large contingent of international press in town for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says the league’s once-firm stance against promotion and relegation may not be quite as rigid as it used to be. Speaking Thursday evening in his annual

His comments, made during a news conference on Thursday at D.C. United's Audi Stadium on the eve of the World Cup draw, mark a slight softening of his previous stance against the European soccer model. MLS, which began in 1996 with just 10 teams, now operates a closed system of 30 clubs.

In his annual State of the League address, Don Garber said MLS is ready to compete with the world’s biggest leagues and wouldn’t rule out promotion/relegation.

"We are in the midst of a dramatic, generational change. Soccer is now an American pastime," Garber stated, highlighting the league's evolution and its aim to compete on a global scale. This growth sets the stage for discussions about the future structure of MLS, including the potential for a promotion/relegation system.