Apple on Wednesday launched its Major League Soccer streaming service, which will provide coverage of the entire 2023 regular season to Apple TV users in over 100 countries and regions.
While the season doesn’t officially kick off until February 25, users can sign up now to watch archived league content, player profiles and documentaries. The complete 2023 match schedule can be found here.
Both live and on-demand content is available on any device that has the Apple TV app, including Apple’s suite of products, smart TVs, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, set-top boxes as well as on the web. Apple is able to stream MLS games thanks to a 10-year deal that’s reportedly worth at least $250 million annually.
As previously announced, MLS Season Pass costs $15 per month or $99 per season, but Apple TV+ subscribers can sign-up at a discounted offer of $13 per month or $79 for the season. Full-season ticket holders with any MLS soccer club can sign up for free. Also, up to six family members can access MLS Season Pass with Apple’s Family Sharing service, if they have their own Apple account.
A select number of games will be available for free, including every opening weekend match. Other free matches will be “added regularly throughout the season,” Apple said.
Kellyn Acosta, midfielder for the Los Angeles Football Club, noted in a statement having accessible MLS games “is huge” for soccer and will help grow the league both domestically and internationally.
“We talk about how we want the league to continue to grow and bridge the gap in comparison with other leagues, and I think having this Apple partnership is a step in the right direction,” he added.
MLS Season Pass also comes with a few personalization features. Users can select a favorite club to have its matches automatically appear on Apple TV’s Up Next watchlist. Each club has a dedicated page where fans can find live matches, match previews, interviews and more. Users can also keep track of real-time MLS updates via the My Sports section on the Apple TV app.
Apple has not disclosed streaming quality specs for the live games but noted “the full production plan” for MLS Season Pass “will be announced soon.” The tech giant last month unveiled the initial team of announcers and analysts for the service. All matches will feature English and Spanish commentary, while matches with Canadian teams will offer commentary in French.