
The crowd at an Atlanta United FC game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Image: MLS)
Overview
Join an exclusive one-on-one conversation on the business of soccer in the United States. You’ll hear from Camilo Durana, executive vice president at Major League Soccer, and Brian Winter, executive vice president of AS/COA and co-author of Why Soccer Matters with Pelé.
Prior to the conversation, there will be a tour of the historic 680 Park building that starts at 5 pm. The conversation will be followed by a reception. The discussion is open to the public; the tour and reception are for Americas Society, Council of the Americas, and Young Professionals of the Americas members only. Any questions, please contact membership@as-coa.org.
- Not a member? Join today.
About the Program
Durana and Winter will trace U.S. soccer’s commercial evolution—from Pelé’s 1975 Cosmos debut to the 1994 FIFA World Cup to how MLS fulfilled the soccer vision in the United States. In 2024, MLS was ranked as the second-most attended soccer league globally, drawing over 12.1 million fans—behind only the English Premier League.
Today, with players from over 80 nations, MLS reaches passionate supporters across the Americas and beyond. Durana will unpack MLS’s rapid expansion, the pivotal role of its partnership with Apple, and how the league is leveraging the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America to accelerate growth nationally and around the globe.