MLS to Lift Paywall, All Games Available to Apple TV Subscribers Next Year
Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced that it will drop its "Season Pass" paywall starting next year, allowing all games to be streamed directly through the Apple TV platform. This move marks a significant shift in the league's strategy, as previously subscribers required an additional subscription to access all matches.
The decision comes after a successful test run with Apple TV's Friday night MLB double-headers, which were made available to all subscribers since 2022. MLS has also secured US rights to Formula One for five years and will make these events accessible to its viewers starting next season.
The timing of this move is timely, as the United States is set to host the World Cup in 2026 and the league is preparing to switch to a late summer to spring calendar matching the European model in 2027. According to MLS deputy commissioner Gary Stevenson, Apple approached the league early this year about moving all matches to Apple TV, citing a positive reception to the "Sunday Night Soccer" package.
Stevenson praised the partnership, saying that it will make the experience and value for fans "significantly better." As part of the agreement, MLS season ticket holders will receive Apple TV subscriptions. The move has already shown its benefits, with the league averaging 3.7 million gross live match viewers per week across streaming and linear platforms for its 15 weekly matches.
The shift in strategy is also attributed to the influx of new viewers from South America and Asia, following Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami and Son Heung-min's move to LAFC. The two players have been fan favorites, with Messi and Son leading jersey sales in the league this season.
While details on specific game schedules remain unclear, it is clear that MLS has taken a significant step towards making its content more accessible and user-friendly for fans worldwide.
Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced that it will drop its "Season Pass" paywall starting next year, allowing all games to be streamed directly through the Apple TV platform. This move marks a significant shift in the league's strategy, as previously subscribers required an additional subscription to access all matches.
The decision comes after a successful test run with Apple TV's Friday night MLB double-headers, which were made available to all subscribers since 2022. MLS has also secured US rights to Formula One for five years and will make these events accessible to its viewers starting next season.
The timing of this move is timely, as the United States is set to host the World Cup in 2026 and the league is preparing to switch to a late summer to spring calendar matching the European model in 2027. According to MLS deputy commissioner Gary Stevenson, Apple approached the league early this year about moving all matches to Apple TV, citing a positive reception to the "Sunday Night Soccer" package.
Stevenson praised the partnership, saying that it will make the experience and value for fans "significantly better." As part of the agreement, MLS season ticket holders will receive Apple TV subscriptions. The move has already shown its benefits, with the league averaging 3.7 million gross live match viewers per week across streaming and linear platforms for its 15 weekly matches.
The shift in strategy is also attributed to the influx of new viewers from South America and Asia, following Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami and Son Heung-min's move to LAFC. The two players have been fan favorites, with Messi and Son leading jersey sales in the league this season.
While details on specific game schedules remain unclear, it is clear that MLS has taken a significant step towards making its content more accessible and user-friendly for fans worldwide.
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Apple TV Subscribers get to watch ALL MLS games?! That's so cool! I'm totally hyped about this news! 
As a huge fan of Inter Miami (Lionel Messi is literally the GOAT 
), this means that fans from all over the world can now watch my favorite team in action on Apple TV. Plus, Son Heung-min's move to LAFC has been amazing too 
, I get to watch him play and cheer for him with my fellow K-pop fans. This is a win-win for everyone! 
Can't wait to see all the games go live on Apple TV next year 
it's about time, right? I mean, who needs all these extra fees when you can just have access to every game through Apple TV? I'm hyped for this, especially since the World Cup is coming up in 2026. I hope they keep the prices reasonable for fans too, don't want them to get priced out of the experience 
! It's all about leveling up the fan experience and making soccer more accessible to everyone, especially with the World Cup coming up in 2026 
. The fact that MLS is giving its subscribers access to all games on Apple TV is a game-changer (pun intended) 
. I'm all about that mindfulness and self-care, but this move is definitely a boost for our mental well-being too - we get to enjoy the beautiful game without any restrictions 
. Bring on the 2027 spring calendar match schedule, I'm ready to cheer on my fave teams! 
I'm so stoked to hear that MLS is lifting its paywall next year! It's all about creating an amazing fan experience 
) for fans who want to watch their favorite teams and players without breaking the bank. I mean, we're talking 3.7 million viewers per week - that's some serious engagement 
! It's also super cool that season ticket holders are getting free Apple TV subs 
. That's what I call a win-win for everyone involved! Plus, with all these new fans from South America and Asia tuning in, it's clear that MLS is becoming more inclusive and accessible to the global community 
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The influx of new viewers from South America and Asia is just proof that they're doing something right! 
I'm also loving the fact that season ticket holders are getting free Apple TV subscriptions - it's like a major bonus perk for being a loyal fan! 
I'm stoked to see MLS ditching the paywall! It's about time they make their games available to everyone, especially with Apple TV taking over 
I mean, who doesn't want to watch a sick match of soccer without breaking the bank? 
And now they're going to switch to a European-style calendar? That just means we'll get more matches and better competition! 
Only time will tell...
! But seriously, this is a win for fans β no more jumping through hoops to watch the matches. Gary Stevenson is all about that fan life 
and make the 2026 World Cup one to remember