MLS
Forbes confirms MLS’ most valuable teams for 2024
The new 2024 MLS Season is just weeks from commencing with an ever increasing global spotlight falling on the competition.
Soccer and MLS in the United States are growing. The sport was already on an upward growth trajectory before Leo Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami last summer took matters to another level with the competition getting an overnight boost as global superstars such as Selena Gomez, LeBron James, Prince Harry and Leo DiCaprio turned out to see the Argentine in action last season.
Despite NFL still dominating the domestic panorama in the US, the average valuation for MLS has risen to $678 million dollars with a series of major global events such as Copa America, the 2025 expanded Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be key factors in spurring soccer’s growth Stateside.
Despite Messi’s impact seeing a major boost for Inter Miami on and off the field with the club securing their first ever silverware bagging the 2023 Leagues Cup, the club’s economic health has seen the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner ignite team’s business operations, with revenue more than doubling to $118 million in 2023, from $56 million in 2022.
Despite the financial upturn that Messi has delivered for the Herons since his arrival, it’s Los Angeles Football Club who top the Forbes MLS rich list for the second consecutive year at $1.2 billion. The club added a 10-year, $100 million stadium naming rights pact with BMO prior to last season and, in July, drew an MLS single-game record 82,110 fans to the Rose Bowl for its Los Angeles derby game against LA Galaxy.
Soccer mad Los Angeles also hosts the other side to complete the podium and despite a drought in terms of silverware, last winning MLS Cup in 2014, the side from Carson generated $95 million in 2023 with the team seeing internal issues which lead to former president Chris Klein being sacked and many Galaxy supporters boycotting games as a means of protest against the club’s management.
MLS x Forbes: MLS Most Valuable Teams
1) Los Angeles FC: $1.2 billion (value)
2) Inter Miami: $1.03 billion
3) LA Galaxy: $950 million
4) Atlanta United: $900 million
5) New York City FC: $850 million
6) Seattle Sounders: $785 million
7) DC United: $775 million
8) Austin FC: $750 million
9) Toronto FC: $725 million
10) Charlotte FC: $690 million
The 2024 MLS season gets underway on 21 February as Inter Miami host Real Salt Lake at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.