Major League Soccer (MLS) has entered a multi-year partnership with Polymarket. Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market platform, becomes the official and exclusive prediction market partner for MLS, covering regular-season games, the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup presented by Audi, and Leagues Cup.
This deal, facilitated through Soccer United Marketing (SUM, MLS’s commercial arm), marks MLS as one of the first global soccer leagues to integrate prediction market insights into fan experiences. Plans for innovative digital content on MLS and Leagues Cup platforms, showcasing real-time collective fan sentiment via market odds around matches, key moments, and season-long storylines.
This aims to create more interactive, data-driven experiences, including second-screen features during live games starting in the 2026 season. To protect match integrity, the partnership includes independent monitoring of trading activities by firms like IC360 and Sportradar, collaboration on available markets, and prohibitions on trading by individuals with non-public information.
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Quotes from the announcement:
Shayne Coplan (Polymarket Founder & CEO): “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. Through our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can surface real-time collective sentiment… giving fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game.”
Gary Stevenson (MLS Deputy Commissioner & President of SUM): “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.”
This follows similar deals Polymarket has with leagues like the NHL and UFC, reflecting growing mainstream adoption of prediction markets in sports—despite ongoing regulatory scrutiny in some U.S. states. The partnership emphasizes fan interaction over traditional gambling, leveraging Polymarket’s availability in areas without full sports betting legalization.
It’s a significant step for both: MLS innovates engagement amid soccer’s U.S. growth especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, while Polymarket gains legitimacy and official data access. Fans can expect enhanced MLS-related markets soon!
MLS positions itself as an early adopter among global soccer leagues by integrating real-time prediction market data (e.g., crowd-sourced odds on match winners, season outcomes, or key moments).
This enables interactive features like second-screen experiences during live games, displaying “collective fan sentiment” on apps/websites starting in the 2026 season. With soccer’s U.S. audience booming—especially ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—this creates more immersive, data-driven interactions beyond traditional stats or betting lines.
Polymarket operates nationwide unlike many sportsbooks, allowing fans in states like California, Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, and Utah home to multiple MLS teams to engage without full sports betting legalization. This broadens reach and taps into untapped demographics.
By partnering directly, MLS gains influence over markets using official data, collaborating on offerings, banning easily manipulated props like yellow cards or insider-info prone ones like firings. Independent monitoring via IC360, Sportradar addresses risks, similar to sports betting safeguards.
This “lean-in” approach as MLS execs described helps regulate rather than ignore prediction markets already existing on MLS events. The exclusive deal via Soccer United Marketing (SUM) creates an “Authorized Prediction Market” framework, potentially opening doors for other platforms if they meet integrity standards.
It signals sponsorship revenue growth amid MLS’s cultural rise. Following NHL, UFC, and New York Rangers deals, this cements Polymarket’s sports push. Official status + league data access improves market accuracy and volume—Polymarket’s trading has surged recently, and sports could drive further growth.
As a crypto-based, no-house-edge platform, it emphasizes “collective wisdom” over gambling, appealing to regulators and fans wary of traditional sportsbooks. Amid challenges like Nevada’s recent actions against Polymarket/Kalshi for sports contracts, partnering with a league provides safeguards and credibility, though state-level scrutiny persists.
This accelerates adoption—MLS joins NHL/UFC in embracing them, while big four (NFL/NBA/MLB) remain cautious. It blurs lines between betting, information markets, and fan tools, potentially pressuring traditional operators.
Highlights crypto platforms entering mainstream U.S. sports despite ongoing regulatory debates, especially with Polymarket’s Trump family ties noted in some coverage though not central here. Some fan skepticism exists, Reddit concerns over Polymarket’s past practices or “gambling creep”.
Integrity breaches could damage trust, and it’s invite-only in the U.S. currently (waitlist required). It’s a forward-thinking move for MLS to modernize engagement during a growth phase, while giving Polymarket a major sports foothold. Expect visible integrations (odds displays, live sentiment trackers) soon—could redefine how fans “follow” MLS matches.