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American soccer picked its next era today, twice over. Larry Berg goes from LAFC owner to MLS commissioner, and Mauricio Pochettino just locked in four more years to find out what the USMNT can become after this summer's near miss against Belgium. Add in transfer sagas swirling around Thiago Almada and Vinícius Júnior, plus a full slate from around the world, and there's a lot to get through before your cup runs dry.

Don Garber's nearly three-decade run as MLS commissioner has an end date. The league's 30 owners have chosen Larry Berg, LAFC's co-managing owner and a longtime Apollo Global Management partner, to take over on January 1, 2027, with Garber shifting into a new role as league Chairman.

The decision came out of a formal search, run by MLS's Succession Committee alongside recruiting firms Korn Ferry, CAA and The Miles Group, that came down to Berg and former Fox executive David Nathanson. Owners heard from both finalists Monday in New York before making the call. Berg will sell his LAFC ownership stake before stepping into the commissioner's office, closing out a run that included two Supporters' Shields, an MLS Cup, and two Concacaf Champions Cup final appearances since the club launched in 2018.

Berg's background is finance, not front office. He spent most of his career at Apollo, the private equity firm with close to a trillion dollars under management, before moving to Josh Harris's 26North in 2022. That resume matters, because the job waiting for him is less about growing the size of the league and more about strengthening what Garber already built. MLS went from 10 teams to 30 under Garber, stood up 30 academies where there were none, and now counts five clubs worth over a billion dollars, according to Forbes. "We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition," Berg said in a statement, and that opportunity comes with real homework attached.

The inbox is not small. MLS's $2.5 billion Apple media deal has an end date now of 2029 and broadcast revenue growth is a top priority for not just MLS, but every sports property in the world. The bigger structural shift lands on Berg's desk almost immediately: MLS flips to a fall to spring calendar in 2027, aligning with the rest of the world's transfer windows, a change that will create more opportunities to grow transfer revenues while increasing spending to attract top talent, however it will put MLS in the room with other major leagues around the world and the competition is real for the best players.

For Atlanta United and every other club in the league, Berg's arrival means a commissioner who has sat on the other side of the table, as an owner negotiating roster rules and revenue splits, not just setting them. What he decides to open up, on designated player rules, on academy pipelines, on how much of that World Cup momentum actually turns into MLS ticket sales, will shape the next chapter of this league more than any single transfer will.

Mauricio Pochettino is staying put. U.S. Soccer signed the USMNT head coach to a new contract running through 2030, announced Monday, less than a month removed from a World Cup campaign that ended in the Round of 16 against Belgium after the U.S. won its group and its first knockout match. The final result disappointed, but that does not erase what was a successful run in the tournament that saw wins with style, control in matches, and real excitement generated by Pochettino and his team. The federation and the coach will look to build on that over the next cycle.

The money behind the deal tells its own story. Pochettino's extension is backed in significant part by a philanthropic gift from Citadel founder Ken Griffin, with additional support from Diameter Capital co-founder Scott Goodwin and LAFC investor Adam Freede, the same donor network that helped land Pochettino in the first place back in 2024. His original deal ran about six million dollars a year, and with staff salaries and the Gregg Berhalter buyout included, the full coaching overhaul cost the federation roughly twenty million dollars. A four year extension at a comparable rate would push that total north of twenty four million, though U.S. Soccer has not released specific terms.

What's new is not the money so much as the mandate. Pochettino and his staff will now advise across the federation's full player pathway, from youth development and coaching education to professional league collaboration, filling a gap that opened in April when technical director Matt Crocker left for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Pochettino framed it as starting from an empty space rather than an extension of the same project, telling U.S. Soccer's podcast that the last eighteen months were built entirely around reaching the World Cup, and that this next cycle is about building the structure underneath it as well.

Pochettino gets four more years and a bigger chair at the table. What he builds with it, starting this September when the program picks back up, is the next real test.

Thiago Almada's future is down to two clubs and, by most accounts, very little time left to decide. Transfer journalist Matteo Moretto reports the World Cup winning midfielder is choosing between River Plate and Flamengo, with the Argentina international said to prefer a return home to Argentina if the option is there.

The two sides are approaching it very differently. Flamengo's sporting director José Boto flew to Buenos Aires himself to meet with Almada's representatives, a move he framed not as recruitment but as a boundary. "I didn't go to Argentina to convince Almada, because it would be stupid on Almada's part if I had to convince him," Boto said, according to Ge Globo. "He played six months in Brazil and knows Flamengo's greatness." Boto added that Flamengo will not enter a bidding war, and that whatever the club already agreed to is what stands if Almada wants to come.

River Plate, meanwhile, is reportedly deep into personal terms with the player, whose youth career began at Vélez Sarsfield before he left Argentina for Atlanta United. He was in the stands at the Monumental for River's 1-0 loss to Rosario Central, an Otamendi own goal deciding it, while Boto was there working the other side of the negotiation in real time.

Neither club has a deal yet with Atlético de Madrid, who signed Almada last June for 21 million euros for half his economic rights from Botafogo and now want to recoup close to that figure as they move him on. Almada played a minor role in Madrid this past season, and with Kang In Lee, Álex Grimaldo and Morten Hjulmand already in the building, sporting director Mateu Alemany has made clear the outgoing business is far from finished. Flamengo had hoped to have Almada in place before the Copa Libertadores round of 16, a timeline that now looks unlikely given how close that competition is to starting. With about a month left before Spain's transfer window closes, the World Cup winner has room to decide, but not much of it.

Vinícius Júnior returned to Real Madrid training this week after his post-World Cup break, and waiting for him was the contract question that has hung over the Bernabéu for nearly a year. Real Madrid has made an improved offer since the tournament ended, sources told ESPN, restarting talks that had stalled through the last two seasons.

The numbers explain the stall. Madrid's latest offer sits around 22 million euros a year, an increase from prior proposals but still well short of the roughly 30 million euros Vinícius and his camp are asking for. He currently earns about 17.5 million euros annually entering the final year of his deal, which runs through June 2027. At 26, both the player and his representatives reportedly view this as the defining contract of his career, one that should reflect what he has meant to the club since arriving in 2018, including goals in two Champions League finals.

Image rights, not just salary, appear to be the real sticking point. Vinícius currently owns just over half of his own image rights and wants to move closer to the roughly 80 percent Kylian Mbappé holds, a comparison Madrid's board does not see as equivalent. The club is reportedly willing to negotiate there if it sees the right posture from Vinícius during talks, but has held firm on salary. According to Spanish reporting, a meeting between the two sides was expected within 48 hours, with Real prepared to offer a five year extension through 2031 while maintaining its financial position.

Arsenal has not made this easier to ignore. The Premier League champions are reportedly ready to offer around 150 million euros for Vinícius this summer, and manager Mikel Arteta has already told the player he would be a key piece of his squad. Roc Nation president Michael Yormark added fuel to the speculation with a since clarified "London, here I come" post from Heathrow, later explained as a visit to the agency's London office rather than the Emirates. With less than a month left in the transfer window, three outcomes remain on the table: a renewal, a sale now to avoid losing him for free in a year, or a standoff that runs all the way to next June. Club president Florentino Pérez, not new head coach José Mourinho, will have the final word on which one it is.

MLS Investigates Alleged Antisemitic Chants at Revolution Match: MLS said Monday it is investigating reported antisemitic and discriminatory language directed at New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman during Saturday's 2-2 draw at CF Montreal. The Revolution said Turgeman was subjected to verbal abuse after scoring in the 35th minute, and that the club immediately reported the incident to the league. Montreal said it is cooperating with MLS and the Revolution and will take necessary action.

Leagues Cup Crosses the Border for the First Time: The fourth edition of the Leagues Cup kicks off Tuesday, and for the first time four of its 62 matches will be hosted by Mexican clubs. Seattle opens its title defense at Toluca on Wednesday, with San Diego FC, Vancouver and FC Dallas also playing on Mexican soil later in the competition. MLS teams have swept the tournament's top four finishers every year since the expanded format began in 2023.

Galaxy Circling Chucky Lozano on Loan from San Diego: The LA Galaxy are in advanced talks to sign winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano on loan from San Diego FC, according to multiple reports. Lozano hasn't featured for San Diego all season after the club moved him out of its plans following a reported locker room dispute last fall. His $9.33 million in guaranteed compensation makes him the fourth highest paid player in MLS.

Bay FC Brings Nighswonger Back to the NWSL: Bay FC has agreed to sign United States full back Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal in a deal worth around $200,000, according to multiple reports. Nighswonger, a 2024 Olympic gold medalist with the USWNT, returns to the league after a difficult stint in England that included a loan spell at Aston Villa. She joins a Bay FC side currently 14th in the 16 team table.

Inter Miami Shuts Down De Bruyne Talk: Inter Miami has not held talks with Kevin De Bruyne despite ongoing transfer speculation, a club source confirmed. The club says it will focus on its current roster, which added Casemiro on a free transfer this summer, through the Leagues Cup and MLS stretch run. Miami sits second in the Eastern Conference with 38 points through 18 games.

Portland Hearts of Pine Break Ground on a Waterfront Future: Portland Hearts of Pine unveiled plans for a 9,000 to 11,000 seat stadium at Cassidy Point, a former coal storage site along the Fore River. The privately funded project is expected to cost more than $50 million, with construction starting in 2027 and an opening targeted for early 2029. Hearts have sold out every home game at Fitzpatrick Stadium since the club began play in 2025.

El Mexicano Becomes LAFC's First Ever Back of Kit Partner: El Mexicano Brand has signed a multi year partnership with LAFC, becoming the club's first ever back of kit jersey sponsor. The deal adds El Mexicano to LAFC's Golden Boot Club of partners and will include fan activations at BMO Stadium. Marquez Brothers International, which owns El Mexicano, also holds a multiyear partnership with the Mexican National Team.

SDH AM, 9:05 this morning: Jon Nelson hosts a lineup that plugs straight into today's biggest headline. Front Office Sports' Margaret Fleming joins to unpack what Larry Berg's hire actually means for MLS's next chapter, alongside new Chattanooga FC head coach Richard Dixon, MLS and NWSL commentator Kacey White, and NPSL national champion coach Santiago Lopez of El Farolito. Watch live on YouTube or Twitch, or with SDH's partners at the National Sports Broadcast Network.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight, 10pm on 92.9 The Game and the Audacy app: I'm back with a new edition tonight, and I've got thoughts on both headlines from this morning's issue. What Larry Berg's hire means for MLS, and where Mauricio Pochettino's new four year cycle with the USMNT should start, plus what I think their priorities need to be from here.

Kerolin Arrives in Barcelona to Sign with Barça: Brazilian forward Kerolin Nicoli landed in Catalonia Tuesday morning to complete her transfer from Manchester City, following weeks of negotiations between the clubs. The 26 year old called the move a dream come true and said she is eager to help Barça stay at the top of the women's game.

Ter Stegen Joins Ajax on Loan to Chase a Germany Recall: Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen left Barcelona for a season long loan at Ajax, reuniting him with new head coach Míchel Sánchez. The 34 year old was left off Germany's World Cup squad this summer after three tournaments as Manuel Neuer's understudy, and the move is aimed at reviving his national team chances under incoming coach Jürgen Klopp.

Algeria Parts Ways with Petkovic Despite Extension: Algeria's federation confirmed Monday that head coach Vladimir Petkovic has left the role by mutual agreement, months after signing a contract extension through 2028. Algeria reached the round of 32 at this summer's World Cup before falling 2-0 to Switzerland, and begins 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in September in a group with Zambia, Togo and Burundi.

Hervé Renard Closing In on Ivory Coast Return: Free agent coach Hervé Renard is expected to take over the Ivory Coast national team, succeeding Emerse Faé after the Elephants' round of 32 exit to Norway, according to Le Parisien. Renard previously led Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title and is expected to target the 2027 edition in his second stint.

Club América Eyes Campaz as Third Signing of the Window: Club América is pursuing Colombian winger Jáminton Campaz from Rosario Central for the Liga MX Apertura, according to TUDN, with the move reportedly tied to Uruguayan winger Brian Rodríguez's transfer market situation. Campaz scored for Colombia at this summer's World Cup, including a stoppage time goal against Uzbekistan at the same Banorte Stadium where América plays.

Ordoñez Scores Four as Tigres Open Apertura with an 8-0 Statement: Tigres UANL put up an 8-0 win over Puebla in the opening round of Liga MX Femenil's Apertura, with Diana Ordoñez scoring four goals in the rout. Mía Villalpando, Maricarmen Reyes and Greta Espinoza added the rest, with Reyes contributing a brace of her own. It was one of several lopsided results in an opening weekend that also saw León beat Pumas UNAM 5-2 and Chivas rally from 1-0 down to beat Querétaro 3-1.

Larry Berg inherits 30 teams and a business model. Mauricio Pochettino returns to a roster that just proved it can hang with the world's best. Neither man was hired to build something from nothing, that job is finished. They were hired to answer harder questions: now that the foundation is poured, how do we grow, how do we get more people watching, and how do we make more people care next time. That is the real work of this next cycle, for MLS and for the national team alike.

Song of the Day: "Life" by The Avett Brothers. The song says it plainly. The foundation is down. Now comes the part where you build something worth living in.

Jason