Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced a partnership with next generation fan engagement and rewards company, Socios.com, making the platform an official partner of the league.

The multi-year deal will see the pair leverage next-generation technology mixed with progressive experiences to forge a deeper connection with fans, and fuel league growth on and off the field.

Additionally, the 26 club deals will create a unique community for MLS fans to celebrate the sport and win life-time experiences, with the 2022 season giving fans access to exclusive rewards, polls and opportunities.

Commenting on the deal, MLS senior vice president of emerging ventures, Chris Schlosser, said: “At Major League Soccer, our Emerging Ventures team is always looking for ways to apply the latest technology to provide North America’s youngest and most tech-savvy fans with new opportunities to be connected in a significant way to our players and clubs.”

“We’re excited to continue our progressive approach to blockchain technology at MLS with Socios.com,” he said.

Socios.com chief strategy officer, Max Rabinovitch, added: “Joining forces with MLS to explore what the best iteration of our blockchain-based fan engagement product will become is truly exciting.”

“This partnership is going to have far-reaching positive impacts on our evolution and shed light on what the Socios fan engagement universe on the blockchain can be as a whole.

“MLS is the perfect home to begin that educational journey in North America,” he said.

The announcement comes after Socios.com partnered 13 NFL teams.