MLS Formalizes Prediction Markets With Polymarket Partnership
Major League Soccer has taken a decisive step into the prediction market space after announcing a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, formally integrating prediction-based fan engagement into its competitions across the United States.
The agreement, unveiled by Soccer United Marketing on Monday, names Polymarket as an official partner of MLS and the Leagues Cup, marking the league’s first structured approach to prediction markets under direct league oversight.
Beyond sponsorship, the deal introduces a new Authorized Prediction Market designation, a framework designed to give MLS approval rights over how prediction products are built, monitored, and presented to fans across league platforms.
For MLS, the move reflects a broader strategy to innovate while protecting competitive integrity. League executives have emphasized that all markets tied to MLS competitions will require league approval and will rely on official data sources alongside independent integrity monitoring.
The timing is significant. MLS continues to expand its audience and commercial footprint as soccer momentum builds in North America ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With fan engagement increasingly driven by digital and second-screen experiences, the league sees prediction insights as a controlled way to deepen interaction during matches and across the season.
Matchday environments and live viewing are expected to sit at the center of the initiative. The focus will be on real-time fan sentiment around matches, tournaments, and long-term storylines rather than traditional betting outcomes, positioning prediction markets as an interactive layer rather than a wagering substitute.
Key safeguards form the backbone of the partnership. MLS will retain authority over which markets are offered, restrict participation from players, staff, owners, and league officials, and work with third-party integrity firms such as IC360 and Sportradar to monitor activity and flag irregularities.
The framework also reflects lessons learned across North American sports, where betting-adjacent products have expanded rapidly under varying regulatory models. MLS has previously enforced its gambling policies, most notably with the termination of Felipe Hernandez’s contract in 2024, underscoring why control and transparency remain central to the new approach.
Within the APM structure, league officials have signaled a preference for aggregate or season-long markets, steering clear of single-game or player-specific predictions that could raise integrity concerns or invite undue scrutiny.
Late in the rollout, the partnership positions MLS among the first major soccer leagues globally to formally integrate prediction markets into its digital ecosystem while maintaining centralized governance over market design and participation rules.
Looking ahead, the deal aligns with a pivotal period for the league. The 2026 MLS season begins on February 21, highlighted by Los Angeles Football Club hosting MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as MLS enters a new growth phase with prediction-driven engagement now part of its long-term strategy.