Apple TV will include all MLS matches starting next year

MLS Season Pass will soon be history. Starting in 2026, you can watch every match with Messi and co. as part of an Apple TV subscription.

In 2023, Apple secured global 10-year rights to MLS. Since then, viewers around the world have needed a Season Pass for $15 monthly or $99 yearly.

Starting in 2026, all MLS matches – league and cup matches – will be included in the standard Apple TV package.

- "We're thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV," said Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Services. "Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals – it's a win for fans everywhere."


Sports in the base package
The strategy change coincides with North America hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With global attention on "real" football on American soil, Apple and MLS clearly hope to capitalize on the moment.

However, the change also breaks with the stance Apple itself helped establish; pushing back against bundling sports into the base package. In the US, Formula 1 will also become part of the Apple TV subscription next year.

There has been no announcement regarding a price increase with the addition of sports, but considering Apple's annual outlay of $250 million dollars for MLS and 1150 million dollars for Formula 1, it seems likely that the base Apple TV package will increase in price.


Better quality, new experiences?
Apple streams MLS in 1080p SDR with 5.1 surround sound. It is surprising that the tech company has not yet experimented with HDR, HFR or VR, even though it "owns" the global MLS broadcast.

Next year, Apple will begin streaming select NBA games in 180-degree VR on Apple Vision Pro at up to 150 Mbps bitrate. For comparison, 4K movies are often streamed at bitrates below 25 Mbps.

 Also read: Apple TV teases 2026 lineup, stays ad-free

For now, there is no information on what video and audio quality MLS will be delivered in from 2026, when everything moves from MLS Season Pass to Apple TV, but there is still time for change, as the 2026 season does not start until February. In 2027, the MLS season will shift from a February kickoff to July – like European football leagues.