Polymarket Scores Multi-Year MLS Partnership
Polymarket has locked down a multi-year deal with Major League Soccer and its commercial division Soccer United Marketing, the companies announced Monday. The agreement makes Polymarket the official and exclusive prediction market partner for MLS, the MLS All-Star Game, the MLS Cup presented by Audi, and the Leagues Cup in the United States.
The timing aligns with North America’s soccer boom. With the FIFA World Cup scheduled for 2026 in the region, MLS and Leagues Cup are entering what both organizations called a period of increased visibility and growth. The MLS season kicks off February 21, so we could see all exactly what the partnership and integrations entail very quickly.
Shayne Coplan, Polymarket’s CEO and founder, framed the partnership around evolving fan engagement. “As soccer’s audience continues to grow and evolve in the U.S., fans are looking for new ways to engage more deeply with the game,” Coplan said in the announcement.
Gary Stevenson, MLS Deputy Commissioner and President of Soccer United Marketing, said the deal reflects the league’s commitment to innovation. “Working with Polymarket allows for the introduction of prediction markets as a fresh approach to fan involvement,” Stevenson noted.
Prediction markets lean into sports, battle for deals
The MLS deal represents Polymarket’s latest push into sports after facing headwinds in the U.S. market. While competitor Kalshi generated 89% of its trading fee revenue from sports contracts in 2025, Polymarket has been slow to launch in the U.S. The regulated U.S. product is currently in testing with a waitlist for U.S. users during a acquisition pivotal period during the NFL playoff for prediction markets and sportsbooks.
Data from Dune showed Polymarket’s blockchain exchange recorded $1.94 billion in sports trading volume, with approximately $381 million tied to soccer specifically. The MLS partnership could accelerate that growth as the league’s profile rises ahead of the World Cup.
Both Polymarket and Kalshi have been competing aggressively for corporate partnerships as prediction markets enter mainstream consciousness. They currently share status as official prediction market partners for the National Hockey League. Polymarket has also partnered with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, while Kalshi secured deals with golfer Bryson DeChambeau, CNN, and CNBC. Polymarket countered with a data-sharing agreement with Dow Jones.
The deal includes provisions focused on match integrity protections, with independent monitoring of trading activity and collaboration on which markets get offered. As prediction markets continue pushing into mainstream sports, these integrity measures have become common requests for leagues wary of potential manipulation concerns.