Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced a new multi-year agreement with DoorDash. In this agreement, DoorDash will be the league’s official on-demand delivery platform for MLS, MLS NEXT, and eMLS.
To commence the collaboration, MLS NEXT and DoorDash have launched ‘MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash,’ which aims to empower the next generation of football stars.
Starting with the 2022-23 season, DoorDash and MLS NEXT MLS’ youth development programme that offers the maximum level of training and competition for youth soccer players in the United States and Canada, will put their shared commitment to the advancement of the sport for all into action by creating equal opportunities associated with playing at the highest level.
MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash will provide $150,000 in annual relief to soccer communities across the MLS NEXT ecosystem by uncovering stories of exceptional self-sacrifice by members of the soccer community. Clubs will be able to submit stories to a select review board that highlight the grassroots efforts of players, staff, families, and local businesses. Up to six MLS NEXT clubs will be chosen to receive a maximum of $25,000 to help with training, equipment, and other expenses.
Carter Ladd, MLS Executive Vice President of Brand Alliances and Consumer Products, said, “Major League Soccer is extremely proud to partner with DoorDash – an extraordinary company that shares our passion for innovation and commitment to providing opportunities in the sport of soccer through MLS NEXT. At an incredible time of growth for MLS and the game in the U.S. and Canada, DoorDash will be a dedicated and forward-thinking collaborator with us on initiatives to provide support to future soccer stars and their communities. We welcome DoorDash as the Official On-Demand Delivery Platform Partner of MLS, MLS NEXT, and eMLS, and we look forward to working with them for many years throughout this momentous period for soccer and MLS.”
David Bornoff, DoorDash’s Head of Brand Marketing, commented, “We are proud to partner with Major League Soccer to further connect with the soccer community while mobilizing to activate against our shared values of providing access and empowering local communities. This partnership will further enable us to use our platform and resources to help the next generation of soccer players transcend boundaries, and we look forward to working with MLS to create authentic experiences for fans this season and beyond.”
DoorDash is also collaborating with DeAndre Yedlin, the defender of Inter Miami CF, to share his inspirational journey of playing professional soccer.
About the partnership, Yedlin said, “Soccer has played an integral role in my life, and I’m thrilled to partner with DoorDash as they kick off with MLS to champion future generations of soccer stars everywhere. As someone who intimately knows the barriers that playing on a competitive level can pose, I’m honoured to team up with DoorDash and MLS NEXT to share my story and play an active role in making the sport more accessible for all.”
In addition to collaborating on meaningful support for young soccer players, MLS and DoorDash will provide fans with unique, authentic experiences at major events such as the MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup, and eMLS season competitions throughout the partnership.