February 17 – Wicket, a leader in facial authentication technology for live events, has confirmed an expanded agreement with Major League Soccer (MLS) that will see its platform rolled out across multiple league events in 2026.
The renewed collaboration follows Wicket’s involvement in the MLS Innovation Lab and signals MLS’s continued push to enhance the fan experience through targeted investment and a modernised approach to event operations – announced ahead of the 2026 MLS season.
As part of the agreement, MLS will deploy Wicket’s technology across league properties throughout 2026, including MLS NEXT competitions and other marquee events.
The expansion builds on a productive 2025, when Wicket featured prominently at several tentpole moments on the calendar – including multiple MLS NEXT showcases and the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in Austin.
“Our work with MLS over the past two years proved that biometric identity can meaningfully improve how large-scale soccer events operate,” said Glenn Borgmann, head of partnerships for Wicket.
“This expanded partnership takes that momentum further, delivering faster check-in, better operational visibility, and a foundation for smarter fan engagement across the league.”
MLS NEXT, regarded as the best option for youth development in North America, saw ‘significant’ operational changes last season with the introduction of Wicket’s system.
Across the 2025 campaign, MLS and Wicket worked closely to streamline event logistics – particularly through coach check-ins and daily food voucher distribution. Using facial authentication, coaches were able to enrol in advance and check in on arrival without the need for physical credentials or QR codes.
With that in mind, it feels like a no-brainer for the partnership to grow further in 2026, with Wicket involved in several of MLS’s flagship youth tournaments. With thousands of players, coaches and staff attending these events from across North America, MLS says that efficient identity verification is ‘the key’ to keeping operations running seamlessly.
“Wicket’s technology aligns with our goal of delivering best-in-class experiences for players, staff, and fans, which is incredibly valuable during 2026, an iconic year that will be full of opportunity for both our sport and our league,” said Chris Schlosser, MLS SVP of Emerging Ventures, Apple Partnership.
“Our work with Wicket in 2025 showed how much more effective facial authentication is, and our continued agreement will allow us to scale efficiently as our footprint grows. We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to achieve with Wicket, and are honoured to continue collaborating with such an innovative and forward-looking organisation.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]