in an anonymous survey with The Athletic, MLS executives weighed in on several topics impacting the league
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MLS executives offered opinions on state of the leaguePraised the league for handling of Messi, but admitted fear about retirementOpinions were mixed on the potential fallout from the Club World CupGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
MLS's future remains bright, but with the 2026 World Cup just more than a year away, there remain questions about the league's future direction.
With the 2025 season underway, MLS executives weighed in on some of the biggest topics in the league. In an anonymous survey with , the execs addressed Lionel Messi's influence on American soccer, the potential switch to a fall-spring calendar, and the potential threat posed by a rival Division 1 setup from USL.
READ MORE: GOAL's MLS Player Survey: Weighing on best player to best run club
AdvertisementON MESSI
Responding to the survey, some executives argued that MLS has taken full advantage of Messi:
"I think going after the world’s best player and bringing them here shows that it’s pretty damn important and a pretty big statement.”
Others, though, said that the league hasn't done enough to prepare for his inevitable retirement.
"I think that clearly Messi’s been a monster. And the real question now is what is this going to lead to after he goes?"
ON A FALL-SPRING CALENDAR
The consensus was pretty much unanimous, though, that a switch to a fall-spring calendar is necessary.
"We can’t keep playing where our season ends in October and then all of a sudden you play a round of playoff games and then you have an international break, then you play another couple rounds of playoff games, and you’re in a thick of it, and then you have another international break," one exec said. “I mean, you lose all momentum as a team. It’s terrible for our game, fans, everybody. I just don’t see how it works. And then the other thing is we’re not aligned with the rest of the world on the acquisition and transferring of players. And I think all those things are incredibly important in order to take the MLS to another level."
There was a general sentiment that it would help the transfer market.
“If we go to secondary markets, we’re basically asking for the team’s best players, and they’re like, ‘You kidding me? We’re qualifying for Europe. No chance.’ So either you grossly overpay or you don’t get your guy. Competing in the summer is going to be a little easier."
ON APPLE TV STREAMING DEAL
There is concern over the league's current streaming pact with Apple, according to some execs.
“Change the format, change the salary cap, allow us to bring more attractive players. But also they have to end the deal with Apple. It’s bad for the fans.”
Another added, "I think we have to be on more linear outlets."