Major League Soccer (MLS) has entered a multi-year commercial agreement with Polymarket, granting the prediction market platform official partner status across several of the league’s flagship competitions in the US.
The deal covers MLS, the MLS All-Star Game, the MLS Cup, and the Leagues Cup. It also formally designates Polymarket as the league’s exclusive prediction market partner.
As part of the arrangement, Polymarket has been granted Authorised Gaming Operator status. It allows the platform to offer markets tied to MLS competitions under a framework similar to those used by regulated sports betting operators.
The agreement permits the use of official league intellectual property and branding while establishing parameters around how league-related markets are created and monitored.
MLS said the partnership reflects a broader shift toward experimental digital engagement models. It’s part of the league’s attempt to reach a growing and increasingly data-driven audience.
Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, said of the new arrangement: “Through our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches, and season-long storylines, giving fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game and engage with the world’s most popular sport.”
The league and Polymarket plan to collaborate on digital activations across MLS and Leagues Cup platforms, with a focus on live match environments and second-screen usage.
These features are intended to surface real-time sentiment around matches and season narratives. This offers fans additional context during live events without altering match presentation or competitive structure.
Partnership could fuel more league agreements
Safeguards form a core component of the agreement. MLS confirmed that trading activity linked to its competitions will be subject to independent monitoring.
Coordination on the design and oversight of markets will take place mutually between the league and Polymarket.
The stated objective is to preserve competitive integrity while allowing innovation in fan engagement formats. Polymarket was recently the subject of controversy when it was revealed that the platform allegedly has no interest in blocking insider trading.
MLS is now the second major professional sports league in the US to permit prediction markets to operate under an official league partnership.
It follows a similar framework adopted by the National Hockey League in a prior agreement involving Kalshi and Polymarket.
Industry analysts noted potential downstream implications for sports data providers.
Jordan Bender of Citizens said the partnership represents a positive development for Sportradar, which holds MLS data rights, and for Genius Sports.
He said exchanges operating under official league frameworks may require additional integrity, settlement, and data services, creating opportunities for incremental product sales over time.
Bender added that while the MLS season begins next month, any material revenue contribution from prediction market partnerships is unlikely to emerge immediately. Commercial and technical integration typically develops gradually.
He said the MLS agreement serves as a second proof point that established data providers have a role in the emerging prediction market sector.
Bender predicts that this could ultimately generate significant trading volumes across sports and non-sports markets as the ecosystem matures.