Outgoing MLS commissioner wants Harry Kane to join league and chase NFL kicker dream

Don Garber, who is stepping down after 26 years as MLS commissioner, has named Harry Kane as the marquee signing he would most like to see arrive in the United States, telling FourFourTwo columnist Henry Winter that the Bayern Munich striker’s dream of attempting an NFL field goal makes him a perfect fit for the league’s crossover ambitions.

“I’d love for him to do that,” Garber said of Kane, who is 33 and expected to extend his contract at Bayern Munich in the near future. Kane has spoken publicly about playing into his forties, drawing comparisons with his friend Tom Brady, the NFL quarterback who retired at 44. The overlap between the two sports is already structural: seven NFL franchise owners also hold stakes in MLS clubs.

“We wanted to create something that would have the Harry Kanes of the world say, ‘I’d like to play MLS,’” Garber added.

Speaking during a visit to London, Garber reflected on the transformation of American football’s standing both domestically and internationally. He pointed to the 2026 World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — as a turning point in how the country is perceived as a football nation.

“Post-World Cup, it’s a different dynamic, there’s much more respect for what’s going on in America,” he said. “I could remember coming here over the years, and people would look at me like I had three heads. Particularly in the UK, there wasn’t a lot of confidence that we would pull it off.”

Garber traced the league’s credibility back to David Beckham’s arrival at LA Galaxy in 2007, a move that came just years after MLS had faced serious bankruptcy discussions in 2001 and nearly folded altogether.

“David put this league on the path to credibility and respect. At the prime of his career, he came here to LA,” Garber said. “He and his family lit up the city. He showed the world that this league can be competitive, respected and fun. Without David, there’s probably no Major League Soccer.”

Beckham’s arrival subsequently attracted Thierry Henry to New York Red Bulls in 2010 and a string of other high-profile players, but Garber reserved his highest praise for Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 and has since elevated the league’s global profile to an entirely new level.

“That said, Major League Soccer would not be the global phenomenon and not be on the hearts and minds of just about anybody in the world without Leo Messi,” Garber said. “It just shocks me how competitive he is, how he just plays 90 minutes regardless of the score, how focused he is on his club and his country, how great a team-mate he is.”

The league Garber leaves behind bears little resemblance to the one he inherited. New and purpose-built stadia have replaced converted venues, several clubs now carry valuations above $1 billion, and MLS is increasingly spoken of alongside established leagues worldwide.