Major League Soccer is making a major shift in how fans watch the league. Beginning with the 2026 season, every MLS match will be included with a standard Apple TV subscription, ending the separate MLS Season Pass that has been in place since 2023. The league confirmed that the standalone pass will wrap up after the 2025 campaign, bringing an end to the current paywalled model that has cost fans $14.99 per month or $99 per season.
This change marks a strategic pivot for both MLS and Apple. Over the past two years, the league tested offering select matches through the regular Apple TV subscription, especially during the 2025 playoffs and more than 200 regular-season games including all Sunday Night Soccer fixtures. That experiment produced a clear surge in viewership, showing that wider access drives more interest in the league, particularly with global stars like Lionel Messi and Son Heung-Min attracting international attention. MLS has struggled to match the casual reach of leagues like the Premier League, which sits on basic cable. Opening the gates to tens of millions of Apple TV subscribers is a direct response to that challenge.
MLS commissioner Don Garber has hinted at this direction for months. He noted in October that Apple would ultimately decide long-term distribution and that bringing playoffs to all subscribers was a positive step toward expanding reach. In a press conference on Thursday, Garber said the shift integrates every local and league-level production into one global platform and makes the sport accessible with a single click. Ratings for Season Pass reportedly rose about 30 percent, but the broader audience that Apple TV brings appears more valuable for long-term growth.
Apple and MLS framed the change as the next chapter of their 10-year partnership, which began in 2023. Starting in 2026, Apple TV subscribers will get every regular-season match, the Leagues Cup, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup, and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at no additional cost. Fans will also have access to studio programming, on-demand content, and global streaming in more than 100 regions with no blackouts. Apple TV will be included in 2026 full-season ticket packages for MLS clubs, expanding access even further.
The move also positions MLS alongside a growing sports lineup on Apple TV. Beginning in 2026, Apple will become the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of Formula 1, adding to the platform’s existing Friday Night Baseball coverage. The expansion builds momentum as North America heads toward hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a moment MLS hopes will convert casual viewers into long-term fans.
Fans can still watch the remainder of the 2025 season, including the race for the Audi MLS Cup, on the Apple TV app. MLS has not said whether the updated distribution model alters its original $2.5 billion agreement with Apple, and Apple has not released detailed viewership figures. What is clear is that accessibility, not exclusivity, is now the priority.
