NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Larry Berg, the next Commissioner of Major League Soccer, (R) and MLS Commissioner Don Garber laugh during an introductory press conference for Berg at MLS Offices on August 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/MLS via Getty Images) MLS via Getty ImagesWhen Don Garber became Major League Soccer commissioner in 1999, the league was fighting for survival. His challenge is arguably even more difficult: Taking a successful league and making it indispensable in the global soccer landscape. This summer’s FIFA World Cup dramatically expanded the sport’s profile across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Aligning the calendar represents another step toward integrating with the broader soccer world rather than existing alongside it.