Overview:
Walmart is stepping onto the pitch in a big way.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart is stepping onto the pitch in a big way.
The company announced on Tuesday a multi-year partnership that makes the retailer an official partner of Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup.
Through this partnership, Walmart will activate across stadiums, screens and stores. As an official partner of MLS and Leagues Cup, Walmart will serve fans at every step of the matchday journey, from in-real-life (IRL) experiences to merchandise coming soon, whether they’re shopping for gear, hosting a watch party or connecting with their local soccer community.
Key highlights of the multi-year partnership include:
- Leagues Cup spotlight: Walmart will be front and center of the tournament between clubs from MLS and Liga MX. Kicking off Tuesday and culminating in the final on Aug. 31, this year’s edition features a new two-phase format and 18 clubs from both leagues.
- Dedicated programming on Saturdays: MLS and Walmart share a commitment to enhancing the fan experience and growing the cultural impact of the game. As part of that shared vision, beginning in 2026, Saturdays will feature elevated storytelling designed to spotlight unmissable marquee matchups and further enhance how fans connect with MLS across platforms.
- Creator Network: Storytelling Beyond the 90 Minutes: Soccer stories don’t end at the final whistle. MLS is launching a custom creator network — bringing together cultural influencers, designers, players and teams to deliver behind-the-scenes content.
Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 28 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.
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