MLS Season Pass is now available worldwide on the Apple TV app ahead of the official start of the MLS season on February 25th.
What matches can fans watch on the Apple TV app?
As of now, fans in more than 100 countries and regions around the world are able to enjoy a wide range of free on-demand Major League Soccer content, including content that celebrates the action, excitement, and distinct culture of MLS. This includes content from MLS clubs, 2023 player profiles, the best league and club highlights from the 2022 season, full replays of classic matches, and documentary-style vignettes.
When the season begins later this month, fans will also be able to watch every live MLS regular-season match, the entire Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and Leagues Cup matches all in one place, with consistent match times and no blackouts — a first in live sports broadcasting.
With an MLS Season Pass subscription, fans can enjoy every MLS match on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com.
Fans can visit mlssoccer.com/schedule to see the full 2023 MLS season schedule, including which matches are available for free on the Apple TV app during the first month. Additional free matches will be added regularly throughout the season.
Why does this matter?
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now rapidly approaching, US soccer administrators are keen to build momentum for the tournament and gain more exposure. This partnership will undoubtedly improve accessibility for fans and should help MLS grow both domestically and internationally.
From Apple’s perspective, it’s clear that the tech giant is looking to make major investments in live sports. After all, the company also recently invested in MLB Friday Night Baseball matches.
MLS is one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues in the world, and this new partnership with the league will help provide inventory for Apple’s expanding ad network, which is already worth $4bn in revenue and is a target for growth, according to Bloomberg.
It’s also worth noting that Apple’s moves in the live sport space are part of a wider trend. For example, the NFL and Google have recently announced a partnership, while Meta has joined forces with the NBA. Here in the UK, Amazon continues to stream select Premier League football fixtures, including the marquee games on Boxing Day.
As a result, it’s clear that we’re currently in the midst of an ongoing battle between these streaming giants. With Netflix currently struggling and its original content failing to attract new subscribers, the battle between Apple, Amazon, Meta and Google could shape the future of the streaming space.
Author spike.digital