FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – Major League Soccer’s 29th season kicked off amid labor disputes and questions about the league’s involvement in the U.S. Open Cup. The league’s commissioner, Don Garber, criticized the Professional Soccer Referees Association for their approach to collective bargaining just hours before the season began.
The Professional Referees Organization (PRO) had locked out match officials after the referees’ union membership rejected its leadership’s tentative plan for a new collective bargaining agreement. Garber questioned the intentional nature of the negotiation and subsequent lockout. He expressed disappointment in the lack of support from the union’s membership for a negotiated agreement.
Members of the union and supporters protested outside MLS and PRO offices in New York, as well as in the Dallas area ahead of the opening game between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake in Florida. Garber expressed uncertainty about when the lockout may end, citing a lack of clarity on the officials’ demands.
Amid the labor dispute, questions surfaced about MLS’s participation in the U.S. Open Cup. Reports indicated that only eight MLS teams are expected to compete in the 2024 Open Cup tournament, raising concerns about the league’s commitment to lower divisions of soccer in the U.S.
Garber defended MLS’s investment in the lower professional levels of soccer, highlighting the league’s support for the USL and the launch of MLS Next Pro. He emphasized the league’s commitment to developing players for the U.S. national team and its role in supporting the soccer pyramid in America.
In addition to labor disputes and concerns about Open Cup participation, MLS is also facing schedule congestion from various tournaments. Garber mentioned the Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, Copa America, Club World Cup, and the 2026 World Cup as factors contributing to schedule challenges for the league.
Despite expressing a commitment to supporting the U.S. Open Cup, Garber emphasized the need for the tournament to garner more support from the federation and make sense for MLS players and clubs. He stated that the league is currently subsidizing the tournament and stressed the importance of shared responsibility in making it successful.
Overall, the start of Major League Soccer’s 29th season has been overshadowed by labor disputes and questions about the league’s involvement in the U.S. Open Cup, reflecting broader challenges facing the organization. As the season progresses, the resolution of these issues will be pivotal in shaping the future of soccer in the U.S. and Canada.