Good morning! Sydney here with this edition of the Scarves and Spikes Daily newsletter. Follow me on X, BSky, IG, and Threads.
Larry Berg is MLS’s pick to succeed Don Garber
The MLS Board of Governors has spoken: LAFC co-owner Larry Berg will be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer, succeeding Don Garber in January 2027. Berg will be tasked with guiding MLS through the post-World Cup era as he’ll be just the third person in league history to hold the top job.
Tyler and I talked about on MLS Monday last night, but Berg’s top role has to be the league’s byzantine spending rules. There’s been discussion about a floor-and-ceiling system and an expanded salary cap, but how will things play out beyond that? What’s Berg’s attitude on promotion and relegation, an issue Garber was completely against at one point but slowly started to warm to? Oh, by the way, the CBA expires in December 2027 and the league’s Apple TV contract ends in 2029.
Berg’s walking into a big job here. We’ll hopefully learn his position on some of the key issues facing the league soon when he meets with the media in New York this afternoon.
Mauricio Pochettino is U.S. Soccer’s pick to replace Mauricio Pochettino
Real quick thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino signing a deal to remain with the USMNT through the 2030 World Cup: Though there will be some cynics, I don’t mind the move at all. There’s certainly ground work laid from the last World Cup (as disappointing as things ended in the last one), but Poch has set a high bar for himself. Let’s see if he can get the program there.
(That is, if he’s here in four years, but that’s another topic.)
Oh, and Leagues Cup begins today
For those interested…there are six Leagues Cup matches today as the 2026 tournament begins.
7:45 p.m.: FC Cincinnati vs. Pachuca, Columbus Crew vs. Atlas
8 p.m.: Charlotte FC vs. Pumas
8:30 p.m.: Minnesota United vs. Juarez
10 p.m.: Tigres vs. Real Salt Lake
10:30 p.m.: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Atlante
Last night on MLS Monday
Tyler and Sydney discussed the news of Larry Berg being voted as the next commissioner of Major League Soccer. Plus, Chucky Lozano (reportedly) headed to the LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City nearing a record transfer, a US$23M outgoing transfer nearing its completion, and more of the big headlines from around the league with MLS on Apple TV’s Nate Bukaty.
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That’s it for now. See you in the next one.