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Second Circuit Backs MLS, US Soccer in Antitrust Appeal

By  |  May 20, 2026
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A federal appeals court has upheld a jury verdict in favor of the U.S. Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer in a long-running antitrust dispute brought by smaller professional soccer leagues that claimed the organizations unfairly protected MLS’s dominance in the American soccer system.

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    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court’s decision denying a new trial after a jury sided with MLS and U.S. Soccer in the case. The lawsuit centered on allegations that professional league standards imposed by U.S. Soccer effectively preserved Major League Soccer’s status at the top levels of the sport while limiting competition from emerging leagues, according to Courthouse News.

    The challenger leagues argued that the governing body’s division standards for professional soccer leagues in the United States created barriers that favored MLS and prevented rival organizations from gaining comparable recognition and market access. The standards govern issues such as minimum stadium sizes, financial requirements, geographic distribution of teams and ownership structures.

    Read more: MLS and US Soccer Prevail in $500M NASL Antitrust Case

    Per Courthouse News, the appeals court rejected arguments from the smaller leagues that the trial court improperly excluded testimony from one of their expert witnesses. The panel also found the leagues had waived their right to challenge another legal issue tied to proving a “relevant market,” a key requirement in antitrust claims.

    The dispute stemmed from claims that MLS and U.S. Soccer used their influence over the structure of professional soccer in the United States to suppress competition from lower-tier leagues seeking greater standing in the sport. Attorneys for the plaintiffs had argued the standards entrenched MLS’s position and limited opportunities for rival leagues to expand.

    The Second Circuit’s ruling leaves intact the jury’s verdict in favor of MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation, marking another legal victory for the organizations in a closely watched case involving the business structure of professional soccer in the United States.

    Source: Court House News