• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Friday, March 23, 2007 12:13 PM

After an 11-year effort to gain traction in the U.S., Major League Soccer has done a lot more in recent months than sign David Beckham--the sexy 31-year-old British midfielder and global marketing icon--to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Today, the Galaxy will announce a jersey sponsorship deal with Herbalife Ltd.--the Los Angeles-based nutrition-supplement company--which will pay the club between $3.5 million and $5 million a year through 2011. The pact is the second uniform deal signed since last fall, when the league changed its rules to allow advertising on the fronts of jerseys.

Other moves include a wide-ranging alliance with Germany's top soccer league, a new tournament pitting MLS teams against Mexican clubs, a landmark investment by one of England's most storied franchises, and beefed-up TV coverage by media partners that will be paying MLS about $20 million a year. It's the first time the league will be compensated for televising its games.

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