MLS Enters Multi-Year Partnership with Polymarket

Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial arm of Major League Soccer (MLS), has announced a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, designating the platform as the official and exclusive prediction market partner of the league and Leagues Cup.

The agreement, announced on 26 January 2026, positions MLS as a global leader in integrating decentralized prediction insights into the fan experience, pivotting toward a data-driven “second-screen” engagement model.

The partnership grants Polymarket exclusive rights across the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup presented by Audi, and the entire Leagues Cup tournament.

By surfacing real-time “collective sentiment” data, the organisation aims to provide supporters with an interactive lens through which to view match moments and season-long storylines, specifically targeting the tech-savvy demographic ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

MLS deputy commissioner and president of SUM, Gary 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.”

“Innovation remains central to how we engage fans and evolve the league,” Stevenson said.

Noting the strategic timing of the launch, founder and CEO of Polymarket, Shayne Coplan, said: “As soccer’s audience continues to grow and evolve in the U.S., fans are looking for new ways to engage more deeply.”

“We can surface real-time collective sentiment… giving fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the world’s most popular sport,” Coplan said. 

Strategic Engagement and Integrity Safeguards

As prediction markets continue to hit record volumes, with Polymarket reaching over USD800 million in weekly trades this January, the deal includes rigorous “integrity principles” to protect the competition.

• Independent Monitoring: The partnership mandates 24/7 monitoring of trading activities by third-party firms such as IC360 and Sportradar to detect suspicious patterns.

• Exclusive Access: Polymarket will collaborate with the league on market design, ensuring that prediction products are “fan-first” and focus on informational engagement rather than high-risk speculation.

• Participation Bans: Strict protocols have been implemented to prevent players, club staff, and league-affiliated individuals from participating in any soccer-related markets.

The organisation’s 2026 season officially kicks off on 21 February, featuring an exctigin clash between LAFC and defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF.

Fans can expect to see live Polymarket sentiment data integrated into the Apple TV match broadcasts and official MLS digital platforms throughout the campaign.

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