MLS Commissioner Don Garber has acknowledged the potential for adopting a promotion and relegation model in the future, contingent upon the league's ability to manage such a transition.

In March, the United Soccer League (USL) owners voted to implement promotion and relegation, challenging MLS's traditional closed structure that has been in place since its inception in 1996.

A Deloitte study revealed that 88% of U.S. soccer fans believe that introducing promotion and relegation would be beneficial for the sport's growth in the country.

Infantino also criticized the 'pay to play' youth soccer model in America, identifying it as a significant barrier to growth and advocating for reforms to make soccer more accessible.

According to a 2025 S&P Global poll, 14% of American adults watch soccer, making it the fourth most popular sport in the U.S., with the majority of viewers following international men's and women's matches.

MLS was originally designed with strict financial controls to maintain competitive balance, a model established after the U.S. hosted the 1994 men's World Cup.

Soccer ranks as the fourth most-attended sport in the U.S., with 8% of attendees in 2024, trailing behind baseball, basketball, and football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino predicts that soccer could become the 'No. 1 sport' in America within the next three to five years, emphasizing the need for structural changes in Major League Soccer (MLS).

During a conversation with Fox Sports at the Fanatics Fest in New York City, Infantino discussed the future of American soccer, highlighting the necessity of implementing promotion and relegation in MLS to enhance competition.

Infantino's vision for MLS suggests a shift in policies aimed at creating opportunities for underdog teams, thereby increasing the stakes and excitement in American soccer.

He referenced the recent success of Wrexham FC as an example of how promotion and relegation can foster excitement and lead to compelling underdog stories in the sport.