Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch all Major League Soccer matches without an additional subscription beginning next year. The move ends the 'Season Pass' paywall that has been in place for the first three years of MLS's 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement with Apple.
During the current season, more than 200 matches were simulcast on both MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, including the league's 'Sunday Night Soccer' package. The decision to drop the separate subscription was announced Thursday at an owners' meeting.
Apple has made its Friday night Major League Baseball double-headers available to all subscribers since 2022, and recently secured US rights to Formula One for five years, which will also be available without extra charge from next season.
MLS deputy commissioner Gary Stevenson said Apple approached the league early this year about moving all matches to Apple TV. 'We had been testing 'Sunday Night Soccer' on Apple TV and we got a really good reception to it,' he said. 'Then we talked to them about the potential schedule change and they thought that made sense.'
The change comes as the United States prepares to host the World Cup next year and MLS plans to switch to a late summer-to-spring calendar matching the European model in 2027. MLS season ticket holders will receive Apple TV subscriptions after previously receiving MLS Season Pass.
MLS reported an average of 3.7 million gross live match viewers per week across streaming and linear platforms for its 15 weekly matches, a 29% increase over 2024. The league has benefited from global stars such as Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Son Heung-min at LAFC, whose clubs have both advanced to the quarter-finals.
