Major League Soccer and prediction platform Polymarket announced a multiyear partnership Monday.
Key Takeaways
- The deal aims to push MLS further into the spotlight with innovations in its offerings.
- MLS is changing its schedule to align with major world soccer leagues.
- Polymarket and MLS will have independent integrity monitoring agencies track soccer trades.
The deal was agreed upon between Polymarket and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial extension of MLS.
Polymarket will serve as the official and exclusive prediction market partner of MLS, MLS All-Star Games, MLS Cup, and Leagues Cup.
The deal will help MLS integrate Polymarket’s prediction insights into first- and second-level fan experiences. These innovations are intended to bring MLS fans closer to the action by showing them how real-time actions influence probabilities and feelings among other MLS viewers.
“As soccer’s audience continues to grow and evolve in the U.S., fans are looking for new ways to engage more deeply with the game,” said Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket. “Through our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches, and season-long storylines, giving fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game and engage with the world’s most popular sport.”
Gary Stevenson, MLS deputy commissioner and president of SUM, said MLS is focused on growing. An example of that will be seen in 2027 when the league shifts to a 34-game summer-through-spring schedule to align with the world's top leagues.
Currently, MLS plays 34 matches from late February or early March through November, with playoffs in November and December.
“As MLS continues to grow, innovation remains central to how we engage fans and evolve the league,” Stevenson said. “Partnering with Polymarket allows us to integrate prediction markets as a new fan engagement format and position MLS as an early leader among global soccer properties.”
MLS isn't the first league to partner with a prediction platform, as the NHL signed a multiyear deal with Polymarket and Kalshi in October.
Polymarket, MLS to honor sporting integrity
Polymarket’s deal with MLS showcases the increasing strength of controversial prediction platforms, which have faced legal challenges in multiple states.
One reason prediction markets have drawn the ire of state officials is that they don’t need to comply with state guidelines. Regulators worry the lack of oversight could lead to nefarious interference, among other issues.
Polymarket says its deal with MLS ensures that won’t happen. Safeguards, including third-party monitoring of customer trades and collaboration on available markets, were designed to uphold the integrity of MLS and other relevant matches.
“Polymarket and many of their peers offer markets on MLS,” senior vice president of emerging ventures at MLS Chris Schlosser told ESPN. “And so, we really looked at it and said, well, if we want to ensure the integrity of our sport, of our competition, we really need to lean in and figure out how best to partner with them so that we can ensure that the integrity principles that we hold dear are able to be upheld, not dissimilar, frankly, to what we do in sports betting.”
Schlosser also noted Polymarket’s ability to offer markets in states that haven’t legalized sports betting was intriguing for the league.
That includes several states that are home to MLS teams, including California (LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, San Jose Earthquakes), Georgia (Atlanta United), Minnesota (Minnesota United FC), Texas (FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo), and Utah (Real Salt Lake).
Players will not be allowed to license their name, image, and likeness to prediction platforms, mirroring the restrictions placed on sportsbooks.
World Cup building soccer hype
Soccer is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., and interest could hit new levels when the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America in the summer.
Eleven American cities will host matches during the buildup to the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, July 19. Spain (+450), England (+600), and France (+650) are all listed ahead of reigning champion Argentina (+800) in World Cup odds at FanDuel.
The MLS season will begin Feb. 21. All 30 teams will be in action, including the defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF, who will face Los Angeles FC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Polymarket’s deal builds on its announcement last week that it partnered with streaming platform DAZN, best known for its coverage of combat sports.
