Major League Soccer plans to introduce Etihad Airways as its newest national sponsor Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement.

The deal comes 10 months after Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed al Nahyan, principal owner of the English soccer club Manchester City FC, announced a partnership with the New York Yankees to launch New York City FC, the 20th MLS franchise. The team will begin play next year, possibly at Yankee Stadium, and plans to build a soccer-specific stadium somewhere within the five boroughs in the...