The pool of candidates to replace Don Garber as MLS commissioner has narrowed to two: LAFC co-owner Larry Berg and former Fox executive David Nathanson, as confirmed by a source to ESPN on Friday.
Although Paraag Marathe, president of 49ers Enterprises, was initially on the final list of candidates, a source revealed he has withdrawn his candidacy within the last 24 hours.
Both Berg and Nathanson are expected to attend the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 29, although no announcement regarding the new commissioner is anticipated at that time.
Garber, 68, has held the position of MLS commissioner since August 1999, a period during which the league expanded from 12 to 30 teams and saw average team valuations reach approximately $731 million, according to Forbes.
“The Board of Governors of Major League Soccer has been engaged in a thorough succession planning process. Throughout this effort, several highly qualified individuals have been evaluated,” MLS stated in a release to ESPN. “The MLS Succession Committee, alongside the Commissioner and the Board, continues to work on this ongoing process.”
In February, MLS announced it had hired search firm Korn Ferry to assist in finding Garber’s successor, whose current contract is set to end in 2027. The timing of this expiration poses challenges, as it coincides with the midpoint of the 2027-28 season, which will be the league’s first under a new summer/spring schedule.
Earlier this year, Garber established a Succession Committee comprised of owners, co-chaired by LAFC’s managing owner Bennett Rosenthal and Jimmy Haslam, chairman of Haslam Sports Group, the owner of the Columbus Crew.
Korn Ferry has yet to respond to requests for comments.
The finalists bring diverse backgrounds to the table. Berg has been involved with LAFC since its debut in 2018, serving as managing owner for four years. Nathanson, on the other hand, spent eight years at Fox, including five years as executive vice president and general manager of Fox Soccer. He is a board member of the U.S. Soccer foundation, a founding investor of NWSL team Angel City FC, and a co-owner of MLS team Seattle Sounders FC.
Marathe, who has withdrawn from consideration, held the role of chairman for English Premier League club Leeds United, owned by the 49ers, since last year, following the Niners’ investment in the club starting in 2018. He has dedicated 25 years to the 49ers organization.
The new commissioner will encounter significant challenges, including the impending expiration of the league’s TV contract 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 news.
MLS resumed play on July 16 after a lengthy break during the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.