MLS and KKR form Hometown Soccer Holdings to scale MLS NEXT Pro

Major League Soccer and funds managed by KKR have agreed a strategic investment designed to accelerate the growth of MLS NEXT Pro, with the parties creating a new platform to centralise and expand the league’s commercial operations.The vehicle, Hometown Soccer Holdings (HSH), has been set up to act as MLS NEXT Pro’s “commercial engine”, with a remit that includes stadium development in new communities, creating new club brands for MLS-affiliated teams, and building matchday environments intended to strengthen local identity and fan engagement.MLS commissioner Don Garber said: “Having KKR as a strategic partner is a significant step forward for MLS NEXT Pro and will strengthen player development across the U.S. and Canada. "This investment will help build and grow MLS NEXT Pro and reflects our ambition to expand into new markets, develop soccer-specific infrastructure, elevate the matchday experience, and deepen connections between our clubs and their communities.”The platform will be led by Tom Glick as chief executive and Chris Klein as president, with MLS and KKR positioning the appointments as a blend of commercial expertise and league operating experience.Glick has held senior roles including chief commercial and operating officer at Manchester City and president positions at New York City FC and within Tepper Sports and Entertainment, while Klein played 13 MLS seasons and previously served as LA Galaxy president.MLS NEXT Pro launched in 2022 and operates as a men’s professional development league across the United States and Canada.The league currently includes 30 clubs, with 27 MLS affiliates and three independent teams, and has been used as a pathway for players and coaches into the MLS first-team environment.MLS said 255 players who have competed in MLS NEXT Pro have gone on to sign first-team MLS contracts.Ali Curtis, president of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS executive vice-president of sporting development, linked the move to the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.Curtis said: “This is a special year for our sport with the FIFA World Cup 2026 taking place in North America, and this strategic partnership with KKR and HSH will help support our short- and long-term growth objectives both on and off the field.”He added: “This investment will contribute to our league’s broader trajectory; it strengthens our ability to provide more opportunities for players, expand into new markets, and to continue building a competitive professional environment that prepares the next generation of talent for success in MLS and beyond.”MLS and KKR have framed the stadium element as a core lever, with HSH expected to work with municipalities and local stakeholders on new venues that anchor clubs in targeted markets.Tom Glick said: “Our platform is about expanding access to the game and investing in the communities that support it. We believe every city deserves a professional club it can call its own, one that inspires local pride and contributes meaningful economic impact.”The next steps are additional announcements from the partnership in the coming months as MLS NEXT Pro develops its expansion roadmap and HSH begins operating across branding, ticketing, sponsorship and venue development.