Chicago Fire Wiretap

Inter Miami lead MLS in total guaranteed team compensation at $54.57 million, a new league record that surpasses the club's own benchmark set at this point last season by $7.7 million, according to figures released by the MLS Players Association.

Miami's payroll exceeds double the total of all but two other clubs. LAFC rank second at $32.65 million, followed by Atlanta United at $27.88 million, the LA Galaxy at $26.43 million and the Vancouver Whitecaps at $24.56 million. The Whitecaps are currently listed for sale and facing possible relocation.

At the other end of the spectrum, reigning Supporters' Shield holders Philadelphia Union are the league's most frugal spenders at $11.70 million, demonstrating that roster investment and on-field results do not always align in MLS.

Total Guaranteed Compensation By MLS Team

1. Inter Miami: $54.57 million
2. LAFC: $32.65 million
3. Atlanta United: $27.88 million
4. LA Galaxy: $26.43 million
5. Vancouver Whitecaps: $24.56 million
6. San Diego FC: $24.39 million
7. FC Cincinnati: $23.47 million
8. Nashville SC: $22.99 million
9. Columbus Crew: $22.34 million
10. Chicago Fire: $21.73 million
11. New York Red Bulls: $21.65 million
12. New York City FC: $21.54 million
13. Charlotte FC: $21.46 million
14. Toronto FC: $21.39 million
15. Houston Dynamo: $20.91 million
16. Austin FC: $19.89 million
17. New England Revolution: $19.41 million
18. Seattle Sounders: $19.09 million
19. St. Louis City: $18.81 million
20. Portland Timbers: $18.45 million
21. San Jose Earthquakes: $15.83 million
22. Minnesota United: $15.55 million
23. Real Salt Lake: $15.29 million
24. D.C. United: $14.55 million
25. FC Dallas: $14.54 million
26. Colorado Rapids: $14.13 million
27. Orlando City: $13.73 million
28. CF Montreal: $13.42 million
29. Sporting Kansas City: $12.36 million
30. Philadelphia Union: $11.70 million

Major League Soccer's pending calendar shift to a European-style schedule is being viewed inside the league as more than a structural change. Sporting executives say the move could finally position MLS to capitalize on television revenue in a meaningful way.

"For so long, MLS has just been a gameday experience type of league," one chief soccer officer told The Athletic. "Media rights are where the money is, and hopefully that's what happens. We're putting the playoffs in a part of the calendar that has a lot less high-level competition, and it is hopefully going to get a boost to the TV money overall."

Beginning in July 2027, MLS will align its schedule with European leagues, syncing transfer windows and creating postseason slots that avoid direct competition with other major sports properties.

Sporting directors pointed to several additional benefits from the alignment. Synchronized transfer windows would open access to the European player market, increase loan possibilities from top clubs and raise the transfer value of outgoing MLS players.

Cold weather concerns drew acknowledgment as a genuine challenge. "You're going to have a lot of unwatchable games," one executive conceded, while maintaining the long-term benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Despite near-unanimous support for the direction, some executives urged faster action. "There's so much opportunity to improve this league faster than we do," one sporting director said. "It feels like at least we're having the right conversations that we probably haven't had in a number of years."

Inter Miami leads Major League Soccer franchise valuations at $1.45 billion, up 22% from last year, as the league prepares for transformational changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The average MLS team is worth $767 million, according to Sportico, representing a 6% increase from 2024. However, gains remain concentrated among top clubs, with the bottom 12 franchises rising just 2% on average.

LAFC ranks second at $1.4 billion, up 9%, followed by LA Galaxy ($1.17 billion), Atlanta United ($1.14 billion) and New York City FC ($1.12 billion). Three teams declined in value: San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps and CF Montreal.

The 30 MLS franchises are collectively worth $23 billion, including real estate and team-related businesses. MLS teams generated an estimated $2.5 billion last season, averaging $83 million per club from game days, sponsorships and non-MLS events.

Inter Miami's local revenues surpassed $200 million, boosted by Lionel Messi's impact and the franchise's first MLS Cup title. A record seven teams exceeded $100 million in revenue, up from four in 2024, while several clubs including Vancouver, Montreal and Colorado generated only $35 million to $40 million.

The financial disparity has grown more pronounced than other major leagues. Inter Miami ($1.45 billion) is worth 3.4 times more than Montreal ($430 million), compared to gaps of 2.8 in the NBA and 2.3 in the NFL.

MLS faces limited national media revenue compared to other leagues. Teams currently receive approximately $5 million annually from the Apple deal after production costs, while NHL clubs average $40 million from television agreements.

The league will shift to a FIFA-aligned calendar starting summer 2027, moving the MLS Cup playoffs from fall to May to avoid competing with football season.

Chicago Fire have held positive talks with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski over a move to Major League Soccer, according to sources. The 37-year-old Poland international is out of contract at the end of the season and Fire want to sign him next summer.

Sources told BBC Sport that Lewandowski is open to the move and his wages are not expected to be an issue. The forward still has other options including staying at Barcelona and joining the Saudi Pro League.

Fire have Lewandowski on their 'discovery list', meaning no other MLS club can sign him without paying a fee to Chicago. Inter Miami have also been linked but cannot talk to Lewandowski while he remains on that list.

Fire are in pole position should the striker decide to continue his career in America. The club made the MLS playoffs this season for the first time since 2017.

Fire have made Lewandowski a priority for at least six months in a strategic move as Chicago has the USA's largest Polish community. The club also attempted to sign Neymar and Kevin de Bruyne earlier this year.

Lewandowski's wife, Anna, visited Chicago last month while in the United States. The former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund forward has maintained strong connections to his Polish heritage throughout his career.

Lewandowski has scored 109 goals in 164 games for Barcelona since joining in 2022 on a four-year deal. He has won La Liga twice with the Catalan club and contributed eight goals in 17 appearances this season.

Barcelona currently sit four points clear at the top of La Liga. Lewandowski remains Poland's all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated strikers in European football history.

Inter Miami have one designated player spot open following Jordi Alba's retirement after their first-ever MLS Cup victory against Vancouver this month. However, Fire's discovery list position gives them exclusive negotiating rights with the Barcelona striker.

The Chicago Fire of the MLS plan to build a privately financed $650 million stadium the South Loop of Chicago. The club plans to break ground as early as the fall with a target date of the 2028 MLB regular season.

The Fire currently play at Soldier Field and rarely sell out the massive NFL stadium. The capacity of the new stadium will be just 22,000, which is more aligned with typical MLS stadiums.

“It’s transformative for the club, and I think for the city as well,” said Fire owner Joe Mansueto. 

“I think we should sell out every game,” Mansueto said. “We want to create this unrivaled match day experience.”

“Joe Mansueto isn’t just building a soccer stadium — he’s reshaping the future of soccer in Chicago,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “This is one of the most ambitious stadium projects in Major League Soccer history, and a powerful reflection of Joe’s extraordinary commitment to the Fire, the fans, and the city.”

Kevin De Bruyne is in talks to join Chicago Fire FC of the MLS. De Bruyne announced last month that he would leave Manchester City at the end of the season after being with the club since 2015.

Inter Miami has De Bruyne's discovery rights, but the club already has the maximum number of designated players already on their roster. New York City FC and D.C. United have also reportedly expressed interest, but Chicago, with only two DPs on its roster and ambitious ownership in Joe Mansueto, appears to be an ideal landing spot should De Bruyne decide to play in MLS.

"Whatever project is available, I'm willing to listen," De Bruyne said in April. "I love football. I love to play football and if a nice project comes, and my family is good with that, then we are able to make a decision."

Neymar is looking to terminate his contract with Al Hilal and return to Santos instead of a move to MLS. Neymar had held preliminary talks with three MLS clubs including the Chicago Fire.

Neymar has said in the past he would like to play in the MLS one day, but never stated when.

Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus recently said that Neymar "can no longer play at the level we are used to" and that he wouldn't be registered for the second half of the season. 

Neymar is in talks with three MLS clubs on a potential move from Al Hilal. The Chicago Fire are the one club confirmed to be in talks. 

Inter Miami will be unable to sign Neymar as Javier Mascherano recently said that it would be "impossible" to add the Brazilian to the roster given the restrictions MLS currently has in place.

Neymar, who recently bought a home in Miami, began his professional career with Santos in 2009. 

The Chicago Fire have hired Gregg Berhalter as director of football and manager. Berhalter will oversee all technical aspects of the Fire's soccer operations, including the first team, the reserve team that competes in MLS Next Pro and the academy.

Berharlter replaces Georg Heitz as director of football, and takes over from Frank Klopas as manager. 

Berhalter is coming off a five-year stint as manager of the U.S. men's national team. Berhalter previously managed in the MLS with the Columbus Crew from 2013 until 2018. 

Aston Villa has agreed to buy Jhon Duran from the Chicago Fire for $18 million guaranteed.

The Fire will also receive an undisclosed percentage of any future transfer. 

Duran, 19, had reportedly been on the radar of Liverpool, Chelsea, Benficaand Manchester United, yet it was Villa who won the race for the highly rated Colombian.