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Apple TV to Carry All MLS Matches at No Extra Cost Starting in 2026

The league moves onto the core service to broaden access following viewership gains from 2025 trials.

Overview

  • MLS and Apple announced the shift after approval by the league’s Board of Governors, confirming the end of the standalone Season Pass after the 2025 season.
  • All regular-season games and special events, including Leagues Cup, the MLS All-Star Game, Campeones Cup, and the MLS Cup Playoffs, will be included with an Apple TV subscription worldwide with no blackouts.
  • Full-season ticket holders in 2026 will receive an Apple TV subscription as part of their club packages.
  • League officials cited stronger audiences when games were placed on the base tier in 2025 tests, pointing to a reported 50% lift, about 120,000 average viewers per match on Season Pass, and 3.7 million gross weekly viewers across platforms.
  • The change complicates revenue-sharing tied to the original 10-year deal’s Season Pass metrics, even as Apple consolidates live sports on Apple TV alongside MLB and new U.S. Formula 1 rights.