Major League Soccer (MLS) announced a multi-year partnership with Polymarketglobal blockchain-based prediction markets platform. The agreement aims to increase fan engagement through data and interactivity during matches.
Polymarket becomes the league’s official and exclusive partner in prediction markets, collaborating with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) — commercial arm of MLS — in competitions such as the MLS Cup, the All-Star Game and the Leagues Cup, a tournament that brings together clubs from MLS and Liga MX, from Mexico.
With the partnership, MLS intends to integrate real-time data into the league’s digital platforms, offering fans new ways to follow matches, predict results and interact with season events. The information generated by prediction markets may appear in league applications and broadcasts, in the format of “probability insights”.
“As MLS continues to grow, innovation remains fundamental to how we interact with fans and grow the league,” said Gary Stevenson, MLS deputy commissioner and president of Soccer United Marketing.
“The partnership with Polymarket allows us to integrate prediction markets as a new format for fan engagement and position MLS as a pioneer among global soccer properties.”
Polymarket operates on the Polygon blockchain and allows users to trade contracts that reflect the probability of certain events occurring — a practice known as prediction market. Although it resembles sports betting, the model is aimed at collective predictions and interpretation of trends.
“As the soccer audience continues to grow and evolve in the U.S., fans are looking for new ways to engage more deeply with the game,” said Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket.
“Through our partnership with MLS and Leagues Cup, we can reveal real-time collective sentiment around key moments, matches and stories throughout the season, offering fans a more interactive, data-driven way to experience the game and engage with the world’s most popular sport,” he continued.
MLS reported that the contract provides for integrity and independent monitoring measures to prevent interference with the results of competitions.
The announcement comes amid the expansion of the league and expectations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico — a scenario that should further boost interest in football and interactive digital experiences.
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
