Major League Soccer has signed a multi-year deal naming Polymarket an official partner of MLS and Leagues Cup in the United States, and the league’s official and exclusive prediction market partner across several marquee properties.
The agreement, announced January 26, 2026, is being run through Soccer United Marketing, MLS’s commercial arm, and positions prediction-market sentiment as a new kind of fan-facing data feed alongside more familiar match coverage.
What the partnership covers and where it will show up
MLS and SUM said Polymarket’s exclusive designation applies to MLS, the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup presented by Audi, and Leagues Cup. The language is explicit about category rights, signaling MLS wants one designated prediction-market partner rather than a crowded sponsorship lane.
The league and Polymarket said the next step is product integration. The stated focus is MLS digital platforms, live-match enhancements, and “second-screen” experiences that surface real-time collective fan sentiment around key moments and season-long storylines.
Why MLS is leaning into prediction markets now
MLS’s announcement frames the deal as part of a broader innovation push as soccer attention rises in North America ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In that context, prediction-style insights are being treated as engagement tooling, not just a sponsorship logo.
Other coverage has emphasized the tension around that approach. ESPN noted prediction markets are drawing both commercial interest and public scrutiny, with leagues increasingly testing partnerships even as regulation and integrity concerns remain an active theme. Reports have also pointed to similar league or property-level relationships as the category expands.
