MLS Adds Back Jersey Ads, Boosting Revenue

0:00You're listening to MLS News Today. Subscribe now for fast daily updates on your team. Major League Soccer is adding advertisements to the lower back of player jerseys for the first time, later this season. The new spots will debut right after the 2026 All-Star break, giving teams 4 total branding areas on each kid, up from just the front. Spotser before 2020. This change follows trends in Mexico's Liga MX, where back ads are already common, though MLS kids won't get as packed. The back space will be the second biggest on the jersey, with logos up to 9 inches wide and 4 inches tall, potentially earning top clubs as much. As $1 million each, MLS Chief Revenue Officer Carter Ladd says it's timed perfectly after the World Cup to boost attention. It's part of the league's big evolution under longtime commissioner Don Garber, called MLS 3.0, which includes new stadiums, better, player development, and a switch to a fall to spring schedule, like Europe's top leagues.

1:02Clubs can also sell these backsponsors for their teams in MLS next pro, the developmental league with 27 clubs. Meanwhile, jersey ads are now standard across US pro sports, like the NHL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, and PWHL, though MLS sticks to clean pitches and skip helmet sponsors for now. It's unclear if the ads will appear on fangers these next year, or wait until the new 2027 dash 2028 season, under the updated calendar. This move highlights how American soccer is chasing more revenue while keeping things player friendly. Support for this D&N episode comes from our sponsor. Do not just listen to podcasts, get lost in them comfortably, S-O-L-I, soleypillow.com