MLS Begins Year 4 on Apple TV with New Features

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Major League Soccer is kicking off its fourth season in partnership with Apple TV, with several new features for viewers in North America and beyond. The biggest change is that every MLS regular season, postseason, and Leagues Cup match will now be available to all Apple TV+ subscribers, eliminating the separate MLS Season Pass paywall. MLS is also debuting a new "Walmart Saturday Showdown" package, featuring enhanced production for one match per week, and announcers are returning to stadiums after calling some games remotely in 2025.

Why it matters

These changes aim to make MLS more accessible to fans and improve the overall viewing experience. Eliminating the separate MLS Season Pass paywall should boost viewership, while the Walmart partnership and enhanced stadium coverage could help generate more interest and engagement around the league.

The details

The new MLS-Apple TV deal means every match will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers for $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Previously, most games were only accessible through the separate MLS Season Pass platform. The "Walmart Saturday Showdown" will feature one match per week with unique graphics and additional cameras, while announcer teams are returning to stadiums after calling some games remotely in 2025 to improve the broadcast quality and capture more pre- and post-match content.

• The 2026 MLS season begins on February 21.
• The first "Walmart Saturday Showdown" match will be Lionel Messi's Inter Miami vs. LAFC on February 21 at 9:30pm ET.

What’s next

The first "Walmart Saturday Showdown" match featuring Lionel Messi's Inter Miami vs. LAFC will take place on February 21 at 9:30pm ET.