MLS Names Polymarket as Official Prediction Market Partner

Major League Soccer has entered a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, making the blockchain-based prediction market an official partner of the league, MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup, and Leagues Cup in the United States.

Soccer United Marketing, the commercial arm of MLS, announced the deal. The agreement positions MLS among the first global soccer leagues to integrate prediction market technology into fan engagement strategies.

Today Soccer United Marketing and @Polymarket announced multi-year partnerships with @MLS and @LeaguesCup that will offer new ways for fans to engage with matches and follow season-long storylines by integrating prediction markets into the fan experience. https://t.co/EYzJx98hcx pic.twitter.com/kMBU9rup1w

— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) January 26, 2026

The partnership arrives as North American soccer prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. MLS and Leagues Cup are entering a period of heightened visibility, creating opportunities for innovative fan experiences.

Polymarket Partnership Brings Real-Time Sentiment to Second-Screen Engagement

Under the agreement, Polymarket becomes the exclusive prediction market partner across MLS properties. Both parties plan to develop new digital experiences focused on live match engagement and second-screen interaction.

The collaboration aims to surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments during matches. Fans will access innovative digital content across MLS and Leagues Cup platforms reflecting crowd perspectives on game developments.

Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, addressed the growing U.S. soccer audience in a statement. He noted fans are seeking new ways to engage more deeply with the sport.

Through our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can surface real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches, and season-long storylines

Coplan said.

He added the collaboration gives fans “a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game.”

Gary Stevenson, MLS Deputy Commissioner and President of Soccer United Marketing, emphasized innovation as central to fan engagement. He stated the partnership positions MLS as “an early leader among global soccer properties.”

The deal includes safeguards designed to protect match integrity. Independent monitoring of trading activities will occur alongside collaboration on markets offered for MLS and Leagues Cup competitions.

Polymarket Expands Beyond Politics and Crypto

The MLS partnership marks continued expansion for Polymarket beyond its traditional prediction categories. The platform gained prominence through political and cryptocurrency-related markets.

Meanwhile, a December research report highlighted prediction markets as emerging speculative arenas. The analysis noted these platforms create “extreme information asymmetry and meaningful arbitrage windows.”

Professional traders often hold advantages over retail participants in these markets, according to the research. Sports betting currently accounts for most prediction market activity.

In January 2026, Polymarket announced a separate partnership with Parcl, a real-time housing data platform. That collaboration brought housing-focused prediction markets to the blockchain ecosystem.

Polymarket and Parcl announced a partnership to launch real estate prediction markets powered by Parcl’s housing price indices. The collaboration will enable users to trade on the future performance of regional property markets using Parcl’s on-chain real estate data, expanding…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 5, 2026

The Parcl deal allows traders to bet on U.S. home price movements using daily price indices as settlement references. Initial markets focused on major U.S. housing metros with monthly, quarterly, and yearly timeframes.

Housing represents the largest asset class globally. The Parcl partnership aimed to simplify expressing directional views on property prices through event-market structures.

Settlement occurs against publicly auditable index data, providing transparent verification mechanisms for traders.

The research report also noted major crypto trading venues have historically operated market-making desks. These desks provided liquidity while positioning against retail flow, according to 10X Research.

Digital asset traders are increasingly exploring prediction markets as alternative venues for potential returns. Crypto and real estate outcomes present niche opportunities beyond sports betting.

For MLS, the Polymarket partnership represents a strategic move ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The league continues positioning itself at the intersection of sports entertainment and emerging technology platforms.