Inter Miami Tops MLS Team Values at $1.45B in 2026 Surge

MLS team values 2026 soar as Inter Miami leads at $1.45B, up 22%, highlighting widening financial gaps and growth ahead of the World Cup.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) season begins next week with a headline match between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC at the 77,500-seat Memorial Coliseum. MLS is undergoing significant changes, including shifting its calendar to align with global soccer schedules, as the league confronts widening financial disparities between its most lucrative teams and the rest of the league. Inter Miami leads with a valuation of $1.45 billion, reflecting a 22% rise—the highest in the league—surpassing LAFC's $1.4 billion mark, which rose 9%. Meanwhile, the bottom 12 clubs experienced only a 2% average increase, with some teams like San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps, and CF Montréal seeing declines.

Why it matters

The growing divide in revenue and spending among MLS teams highlights the league's evolution as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The shift in the MLS calendar to align with global soccer schedules is expected to facilitate a more lucrative media rights deal, but it also presents challenges for northern clubs due to the higher cost of cold-weather operations and potential declines in attendance.

The details

Despite the league's expansion and increased visibility, MLS confronts widening financial disparities between its most lucrative teams and the rest of the league. Inter Miami and LAFC not only boast the highest player salaries, thanks to Messi and Son, but also lead in revenue, driving the widening gap. Owners and executives debate revised roster rules to enable higher player spending amid these differences. The average MLS team value currently stands at $767 million, up 6% from last year, with increases predominantly driven by top-tier clubs attracting investor interest and developing new facilities. In the previous season, MLS clubs collectively generated approximately $2.5 billion in revenue, averaging $83 million per team, derived from matchdays, sponsorships, and non-MLS venue events.

  • The upcoming MLS season begins next week.
  • The league is set to have strong representation in the 2026 World Cup.
  • The most significant upcoming change is shifting the MLS season to align with the FIFA calendar, running from late summer through May with a winter break, beginning with a shorter spring campaign in 2027.

The players

Inter Miami

An MLS team with a valuation of $1.45 billion, up 22% from the previous year, making it the most valuable team in the league.

LAFC

An MLS team with a valuation of $1.4 billion, up 9% from the previous year, the second most valuable team in the league.

Lionel Messi

One of the league's two most celebrated players, who plays for Inter Miami.

Son Heung-Min

One of the league's two most celebrated players, who plays for LAFC.

Mohamed Mansour

The Egyptian billionaire owner of San Diego FC, an expansion team that finished atop the Western Conference in its first season and set an expansion record for points.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a great investment for us. San Diego is a soccer city, and it was yearning for a professional team to come in after the Chargers left.”

— Mohamed Mansour, Owner (theconwaybulletin.com)

“There's a good story that you'll have access to more players, maybe better players if you're in the primary transfer window like everybody else. But we don't know that that will be the case, that you will be able to sell your players if you're into that more easily.”

— Bill McGuire, Minnesota United Owner (theconwaybulletin.com)

“We had like more than 30, almost 40 groups who signed an NDA and went into our data room and did a full analysis on our situation. Not one single one is interested in buying even 1% of this club, because all of them think that our setup here, the market and the situation we are in is not something where you can invest.”

— Axel Schuster, Vancouver Whitecaps CEO (theconwaybulletin.com)

What’s next

The league aims to leverage the 2026 World Cup exposure by converting international sports fans into dedicated domestic soccer supporters, supported by a significant marketing campaign involving its clubs during the tournament.

The takeaway

The widening financial disparities among MLS teams, with the top clubs like Inter Miami and LAFC far outpacing the rest of the league, highlight the challenges the league faces in maintaining parity and competitiveness as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The shift to the FIFA calendar and the potential for a more lucrative media rights deal present both opportunities and risks for MLS clubs, particularly those in colder-weather markets.