Los Angeles Galaxy is treating the 2026 FIFA World Cup not as a six-week showcase but as the launchpad for a new era, aiming to convert global attention on North American soccer into lasting growth in fans, relevance, and stature. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber says the league is using the event as fuel to expand, improve infrastructure, and strengthen the league's global profile. The league has added seven teams and nine soccer-specific stadiums, changed roster rules to encourage investment in young players, increased attendance by 35%, and launched a global media partnership with Apple. Club valuations have tripled since 2018 and are now collectively valued at approximately $23 billion, MLS said. Garber said MLS did not want the World Cup to be a short-lived spectacle that faded once the tournament ended. He said the league would measure success more broadly through popularity, relevance, awareness, player recognition, and fan engagement. Garber rejected lingering criticism that MLS remains a destination for players at the end of their careers, pointing to the league's average age of 26 and the competitiveness described by players who have joined. He said Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami had transformed global perception of MLS, noting that the league had beaten Barcelona and Saudi suitors for the Argentine great.