The pool of candidates to replace Don Garber as MLS commissioner has narrowed to two finalists: Larry Berg, co-owner of LAFC, and former Fox executive David Nathanson, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday.
Paraag Marathe, president of 49ers Enterprises, was also on the final shortlist, but a source revealed that he has withdrawn his candidacy within the last day.
According to the source, Berg and Nathanson are anticipated to attend the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 29, although no announcement regarding the commissioner position is expected at that event.
Garber, 68, has held the position of MLS commissioner since August 1999, a tenure during which the league has expanded from 12 to 30 teams, with team valuations currently averaging $731 million, according to Forbes.
In a statement to ESPN, MLS commented, “Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors has been engaged in a thorough succession planning process, reviewing a number of highly qualified candidates.” The MLS Succession Committee is collaborating with the Commissioner and the Board throughout this ongoing process.
In February, MLS announced that search firm Korn Ferry would lead the search for Garber’s successor, whose contract is set to expire at the end of 2027. This timing is significant, as it coincides with the transition to a new summer/spring league calendar, which means the contract will expire midway through the 2027-28 season under the new structure.
This year, Garber established a Succession Committee comprised of owners, co-chaired by Bennett Rosenthal, managing owner of LAFC, and Jimmy Haslam, chairman of Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Columbus Crew.
Korn Ferry has yet to comment regarding the search.
Both candidates bring extensive yet distinct backgrounds in soccer. Berg has been an LAFC co-owner since the team’s inception into the league in 2018, additionally serving as managing owner for four years. Nathanson spent eight years with Fox, notably as executive vice president and general manager of Fox Soccer for five years. He also serves on the board of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, is a founding investor in Angel City FC in the NWSL, and co-owns MLS team Seattle Sounders FC.
Marathe, who has withdrawn his name from consideration, was the chairman of English Premier League club Leeds United, owned by the 49ers, since last year, after the organization’s investment in the club began in 2018. He has dedicated 25 years to the 49ers team.
The incoming commissioner will encounter significant challenges, including an impending expiration of the league’s TV deal with Apple at the end of 2029 and the collective bargaining agreement with the MLS Players Association set to expire on January 31, 2028.
Sportico and Puck were the first to report this development.
MLS made its return on July 16 after a lengthy hiatus during the 2026 World Cup held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.