The start of the 2024 MLS season is almost upon us, and Apple TV’s soccer service MLS Season Pass is once again the only way to catch all the soccer action live.
Free-scoring Columbus Crew enter the new campaign as the defending MLS Cup Final champions, but all eyes will inevitably be on the challenge put up by a full season of a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami.
While the offseason hasn’t seen as seismic a signing as the one that saw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner join the club last year, Miami have nevertheless made a significant new recruit for 2024 with the addition of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. The move reunites Suárez with Inter’s trio of fellow golden-era Barcelona veterans Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Messi.
Other big-name new players to the MLS for the new campaign include experienced French international goalkeeper Hugo Loris who joins from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur while the New York Red Bulls have been boosted by the addition of Swedish attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg from sister club RB Leipzig.
Apple TV Plus will once again be the exclusive provider of every Major League Soccer match, with the company’s MLS Season Pass giving viewers access to watch games on TVs, phones and other devices, for $15 a month or $99 for the season.
If you’re already a subscriber to the Apple TV Plus streaming service, that fee is reduced to $13 a month or $79 for the season.
While a handful of select matches will also air on Fox and FS1, MLS Season Pass remains the only way to watch every Major League Soccer game this season. There are no blackouts for local games and no need to switch between different apps or channels to find different matches, while the service will also be carrying Leagues Cup matches, plus games from MLS Next.
And it’s not only available in the US: Soccer fans in over 100 countries can subscribe, including Canada, Mexico, the UK and Australia.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Major League Soccer on Apple TV this year.
MLS on Apple FAQs
Apple will charge $13 a month for an MLS Season Pass to those who already pay for Apple TV Plus. Since an Apple TV Plus subscription costs $7 a month, the total monthly fee for subscribers is $20 per month.
If you aren’t an Apple TV Plus subscriber, the monthly rate will be $15 a month.
Soccer fans looking to save can get a full season for a one-time charge. It’ll cost $79 for Apple TV Plus members or $99 for those who don’t subscribe to the service.
Can I watch every Lionel Messi game live on Season Pass?
Yes. Every week Apple will make select matches available for free without the need to sign up for an MLS Season Pass or for Apple TV Plus, though you will need to log in with an Apple ID, which you can set up for free.
For Matchday 1 this will include:
Saturday, Feb. 24
LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
4:30 p.m. ET
D.C. United vs. New England Revolution
7:30 p.m. ET
Orlando City SC vs. CF Montréal
7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Feb. 25
FC Cincinnati vs. Toronto FC
2:30 p.m. ET
A full schedule for MLS games can be found on the MLS website.
Do I need Apple TV Plus to get an MLS Season Pass?
No, you don’t. Apple will offer its MLS Season Pass on numerous devices and platforms. That includes not only the company’s own gadgets and services but also TVs, phones, tablets and computers made by other manufacturers.
What devices do I need to watch Apple’s soccer games?
Yes. Although Apple does not have Apple TV apps for Android phones and tablets, it does let you stream its shows, and MLS games, using a web browser by going to tv.apple.com.
You will need to sign in to or create an Apple account to watch the games.
Are MLS games available on regular TV channels?
Apple has lined up a slew of broadcast teams to call all games in English and Spanish. Games featuring Canadian teams will also be broadcast in French.
Full details on the broadcast crews can be found here.
