Deadspin | Reports: MLS down to 3 finalists to succeed Don Garber

Reports: MLS down to 3 finalists to succeed Don Garber says Major League Soccer has narrowed its succession search for commissioner Don Garber to three candidates, following reports from multiple outlets. The finalists are Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg, 49ers Enterprises president Paraag Marathe, and David Nathanson, a former Fox executive. An MLS representative told Sportico that the Board of Governors is running a comprehensive succession planning process, with a succession committee working alongside Garber and the board. Garber, 68, has led MLS since August 1999 and is under contract through the end of the 2027 season, though league calendar changes aligned to the international calendar could shift the timing. In 2025, MLS formed a succession committee led by LAFC co-owner Bennett Rosenthal and Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam, with consultant Korn Ferry overseeing the search. The article adds that these candidates bring different strengths: Berg’s operations experience, Marathe’s football investment background, and Nathanson’s media rights experience spanning the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups.