​NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 03: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Larry Berg poses for a portrait after being introduced as the next Commissioner of Major League Soccer on August 3, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/MLS via Getty Images)MLS via Getty ImagesAfter 27 years at the helm, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber will step down effective at the end of 2026.And as announced on Monday, his replacement comes in the form of a (relatively) familiar face for fans of the league: Los Angeles Football Club part owner Larry Berg will succeed Garber. Berg was selected during a vote among MLS club owners, over fellow finalist David Nathanson – a former Fox executive.Before he takes the helm, Berg will have to divest himself of his stake in LAFC. Yet his experience as part of that club could prove foundational in how he handles the head MLS job at a critical time in the history of the 30-year old league.Since entering the league in 2018, LAFC has finished top-three in the Western Conference six times, played for two MLS Cups (winning one in 2022), and took home a U.S. Open Cup title in 2024. The club also regularly competes for top talent transferring into the league, and prioritizes spending money on the roster.While Berg has not been solely responsible for that spending or on-field success, it’s likely to rub off on his early priorities for MLS on January 1, 2027.New Salary RulesIn the short-term, MLS is on the precipice of a significant shift in its business model.For 2027, the league will hold a 14-game “sprint” season starting in February, that concludes in May. That will be followed by a brief break, before returning to the field in August and aligning to the traditional autumn-to-spring schedule most of the world’s top leagues observe.In doing so, MLS changes its primary player acquisition window from winter (December/January) to summer (June/July). But trying to compete for top talent against clubs across Europe and South America – among other regions – requires having money to spend. Money the current salary structure doesn’t necessarily allow for, as most teams spend south of $20 million per year on their entire rosters.Even before Berg takes over, some of those mechanisms may be changing, however.In late July, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio and Tom Bogert reported that MLS would be hearing a presentation on “significant” changes to its salary structure – potentially including a more open salary cap system. Berg, coming from LAFC, would almost certainly be in favor of pushing those ideas forward. Other, more recent ownership groups in Atlanta, New York and Miami would likely be in favor as well, as would clubs like the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.An adjusted cap wouldn’t simply benefit bigger-spending clubs, though. It would increase the overall quality of play in the league and push the entire product forward. On that front…AUSTIN, TX – JULY 22: The MLS logo and Apple TV logos are displayed on a microphone flag