Major League Soccer (MLS) views the current surge of interest in soccer across the United States as a sustained momentum built over years, rather than a new phenomenon sparked by the World Cup, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Garber stated Thursday that the league's expansion and investment since the United States, Canada, and Mexico were awarded the 2026 World Cup have been the driving forces behind its growth, a process that began in 2018. He highlighted the addition of seven new teams and nine new stadiums as key developments in this period.
"It's really about recognizing that this momentum didn’t start with the World Cup. It started in 2018 when we got the bid," Garber said, emphasizing that the league is prepared to build on the current excitement. "And with all of this energy, all this joy, all this excitement, we’re saying, ‘thanks world,’ when it’s all over, we’re gonna take it from here."
Over the past decade, MLS has significantly expanded, growing from 20 teams in 2016 to 30 teams currently. The league's profile also received a substantial boost with the arrival of Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in 2023, providing MLS with a major global attraction in the lead-up to the current World Cup.
The U.S. Men's National Team's performance, reaching the Round of 16, has contributed to the World Cup's strong viewership numbers in the United States. The team's 2-0 victory on Wednesday averaged 24.429 million viewers and peaked at nearly 32 million, according to Fox Sports PR. The USMNT is scheduled to play Belgium next on Monday.