Major League Soccer is making a major shift in how fans will watch matches starting in 2026. MLS and Apple have agreed to remove the standalone MLS Season Pass paywall at the end of the 2025 season, meaning every MLS game will be included with a standard Apple TV subscription. The change is designed to expand the league’s reach, attract new fans, and make games easier to access worldwide.
MLS Season Pass Ends After 2025
Since 2023, all MLS games have been available exclusively through MLS Season Pass, costing viewers $14.99 per month or $99 per season. While the service delivered high-quality broadcasts and unified coverage, many fans felt the separate paywall made MLS harder to find—especially compared to other major U.S. sports.
Beginning in 2026, MLS Season Pass will be discontinued. All matches will stream directly within the Apple TV service (formerly Apple TV+), which costs $12.99 per month or $99 annually. This removes the extra subscription barrier and exposes MLS to millions more Apple TV subscribers.
A Move Aimed at Growing MLS Viewership
Apple has not released exact subscriber numbers, but company executive Eddy Cue recently stated that the service has “significantly more” than the previously reported 45 million subscribers. By placing MLS alongside other popular Apple TV content—and ahead of Apple’s newly acquired Formula 1 package launching in 2026—the league expects to reach larger and more diverse audiences.
MLS tested this strategy in 2024 and 2025 by making more than 200 matches available outside of the Season Pass paywall. Those games drew noticeably higher average viewership. The entire 2025 postseason will also be available without the paywall, another step toward wider distribution.
Inside the MLS–Apple Partnership
MLS signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $250 million deal with Apple beginning in 2023. As part of the agreement, the league consolidated all local, national, and international broadcast rights and has been producing every match in-house.
Although some fans criticized the paywall for limiting local accessibility, MLS and Apple have worked to expand visibility through distribution partnerships with Comcast, DirecTV, and others. League executives remain confident that the long-term vision of the Apple partnership is unfolding as planned.
MLS Leaders Believe the Strategy Will Pay Off
MLS deputy commissioner Gary Stevenson says the league always expected the partnership to evolve and improve over time.
“The story on the Apple deal will be written over time,” Stevenson told The Athletic. “We were ahead of the curve. All 600 of our matches can be accessed globally by one touch of your finger. Our partner is willing to make changes with us to better serve the consumer, and you’re going to see more improvements as this property continues to grow.”
What This Means for Fans
Starting in 2026, watching MLS will become significantly simpler:
- No more separate Season Pass subscription
- Every match included with the standard Apple TV plan
- Expanded global availability
- Potential crossover exposure from Apple’s Formula 1 audience
This shift marks one of MLS’s most fan-friendly moves in years and aligns the league with broader streaming trends. With easier access, a growing subscriber base, and major international sports content coming to Apple TV, MLS is positioning itself for a larger footprint in the global soccer landscape.