What Does Major League Soccer Do?

Total employees1413
HeadquartersNew York
Founded1996

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, sanctioned by U.S. Soccer. Established in 1993 as part of the United States' successful bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the league began play in 1996. MLS currently features 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada—with plans for further expansion. The league operates under a single-entity structure in which teams and player contracts are centrally owned by the league, providing financial stability and controlled growth. MLS aims to advance the sport of soccer in North America, offering high-level competition, developing domestic and international talent, and engaging a rapidly growing and diverse fanbase through innovative broadcasting and digital media strategies.

Where Is Major League Soccer's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central administrative, operational, strategic, and commercial hub for the league. It oversees all aspects of league operations, including competition management, broadcasting, marketing, communications, digital media, club services, expansion initiatives, and relationships with Soccer United Marketing (SUM).

Notable Features:

Modern office facilities designed for collaboration, often featuring soccer-themed decor and spaces for media production and partner meetings. Its location in a prime NYC building offers accessibility and prestige.

Work Culture:

A dynamic, fast-paced, and innovative environment driven by a collective passion for soccer and its growth in North America. The culture emphasizes teamwork, diversity, and a commitment to advancing the league's mission.

HQ Significance:

The NYC headquarters centralizes decision-making and league governance, enabling unified strategy execution and fostering close ties with major media partners, sponsors, and the broader sports industry concentrated in the city.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects MLS's ambition, professionalism, and commitment to innovation, growth, and becoming a leading soccer league globally.

Location:

While primarily a North American league with teams in the United States and Canada, Major League Soccer supports and engages in functions with a global reach. This includes international player scouting and recruitment from over 80 countries, global broadcasting partnerships distributing MLS content to over 190 countries and territories (notably with Apple TV for MLS Season Pass), international preseason tours by MLS clubs, participation in international club competitions, and engaging a worldwide fanbase through multilingual digital content and social media platforms. Soccer United Marketing (SUM), MLS's commercial arm, also manages properties with international scope.

Street Address:

420 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor

City:

New York

State/Province:

NY

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Major League Soccer Operate Around the World?

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Address: Address not widely publicized, typically a central Toronto location.

To support and grow MLS presence in Canada, foster relationships with Canadian stakeholders, media, and fans, and oversee specific Canadian club relations and national initiatives.

Various cities with MLS clubs (USA & Canada)

Address: N/A (League staff may be embedded or work closely with individual club front offices)

To provide direct support to clubs, manage on-the-ground operations for league events, and facilitate communication between the league and its member teams across North America.

Buying Intent Signals for Major League Soccer

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Major League Soccer? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Major League Soccer' leadership includes:

Don Garber - Commissioner
Gary Stevenson - Deputy Commissioner, Major League Soccer and President and Managing Director, MLS Business Ventures
JoAnn Neale - President & Chief Administrative Officer
Todd Durbin - Executive Vice President, Competition & Player Relations
Anastasia Danias - Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Nelson Rodriguez - Chief of Staff to Commissioner Garber & Chief MLS Officer
Charles Altchek - Executive Vice President, MLS & President, MLS NEXT Pro
Diego Gutierrez - Executive Vice President and Managing Director of MLS NEXT

Who's Investing in Major League Soccer?

Major League Soccer has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Major League Soccer operates as a single-entity league. This means that team 'owners' are actually 'investor-operators' who own a share in the league itself, rather than just their individual team in a traditional franchise model. Key investor-operators include individuals and groups such as Arthur Blank (Atlanta United FC), Anschutz Entertainment Group (LA Galaxy), Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (Toronto FC), Joe Mansueto (Chicago Fire FC), Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (Real Salt Lake), and the diverse ownership groups of all other MLS clubs. The league itself does not have external 'investors' in the typical corporate sense; its capital comes from these investor-operators and its revenue-generating activities.

What Leadership Changes Has Major League Soccer Seen Recently?

Hire1
Exits0

MLS has seen strategic appointments and promotions in the past year to bolster its youth development pathways (MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro) and strengthen its commercial and digital operations, reflecting the league's continued growth and focus on innovation.

New Appointments:

Diego Gutierrez, Diego Gutierrez appointed to lead MLS NEXT, focusing on youth player development initiatives.
Charles Altchek, Charles Altchek promoted to oversee MLS NEXT Pro, enhancing the bridge between youth and first-team soccer.
Chris Schlosser, Chris Schlosser's promotion focuses on leveraging new technologies and innovative ventures for league growth.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byMajor League Soccer?

Discover the tools Major League Soccer uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Major League Soccer Email Formats and Examples

Major League Soccer (MLS) and its related entities like Soccer United Marketing (SUM) typically use a standardized corporate email format. The most common structure is the first initial followed by the last name.

flast@mlssoccer.com

Format

jdoe@mlssoccer.com

Example

80%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Major League Soccer?

mlssoccer.comFebruary 21, 2024

Major League Soccer Season Pass on Apple TV: What's New for 2024

MLS highlighted new features and enhanced coverage for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for the 2024 season, including more camera angles, improved studio shows, and exclusive content, aiming to build on the success of its first year of the global broadcast partnership....more

ESPNMay 16, 2023

Major League Soccer announces San Diego as 30th team, to start play in 2025

Major League Soccer officially awarded its 30th franchise to San Diego, California. The expansion team, co-owned by Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, is set to begin play in the 2025 season....more

ReutersJuly 15, 2023

Major League Soccer: Messi officially signs with Inter Miami

Global soccer superstar Lionel Messi officially signed with Inter Miami CF, a landmark moment for MLS expected to significantly boost the league's global profile, viewership, and commercial revenue. His debut generated unprecedented attention worldwide....more

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