MLS 2026 Kicks Off This Weekend With a New Setup on Apple TV

MLS 2026 Kicks Off This Weekend With a New Setup on Apple TV

Millions of soccer fans around the world are readying themselves for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to start in June, but until then, Major League Soccer can entertain all US fans of the sport. Changes are coming to MLS, which kicks off its regular season on Feb. 21 with games throughout Saturday and Sunday. You can watch every match on Apple TV (formerly Apple TV Plus) -- without a separate paid subscription to MLS Season Pass.

The $13-a-month streaming service now includes access to MLS at no extra charge, a welcome change in a fresh season that brings all 30 clubs to the field on opening weekend. Apple TV subscribers can tune in from around the world to see Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, along with LAFC's Son Heung Min and the San Jose Earthquakes' big new signing Timo Werner. This is also the last year the league will run its games from spring through autumn, because beginning with its 2027-2028 season, MLS will switch to a summer-to-spring schedule in line with European leagues. 

Sunday Night Soccer continues on Apple TV this season, but MLS is introducing something new: Walmart Saturday Showdown and expansion with EverPass. Going forward, all MLS games will give viewers the chance to see sideline reporting in Spanish and English, as well as on-site pre- and post-game coverage.

What is MLS's Walmart Saturday Showdown?

MLS programming on Saturdays will feature a slate of games throughout the day, but the new Walmart Saturday Showdown launch will include extra features. One regular-season match is spotlighted each week from the Saturday lineup, starting with Saturday's LAFC vs. Inter Miami game at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT). You can watch highlights on Apple TV or check them out on the social media channels for Walmart and MLS.

During a press demo earlier this month, MLS and Apple shared what's in store. "We'll have enhanced production across both Apple and MLS platforms," said Seth Bacon, MLS's executive vice president of media. "We're going to lean into some of the testing we did last year with 'Shot on iPhone.' We're going to have the 'Shot on iPhone' view at every single Walmart Saturday Showdown match. We're going to capture the speed, we're going to capture moments behind the scenes, we're going to capture fan interactions."

Watch MLS and more at restaurants and bars via EverPass

Apple and MLS announced a partnership this season with EverPass Media, which distributes live sports programming to local venues such as bars, restaurants and hotels. Like NFL Sunday Ticket, fans can watch MLS games at a local spot without paying for anything except a beer and some snacks. Need help in hunting down where to go? Try out this little tool from DirecTV.

When and where to stream 2026 MLS matches

You won't need an MLS Season Pass anymore, but you will need Apple TV to watch every regular-season match. A subscription costs $13 per month, but the service can also be bundled with Peacock for $15 a month or via Comcast's $18 StreamSaver package. We'll note that a small selection of games will also be shown on Fox or FS1 in addition to Apple TV.

The season begins Feb. 21 and runs through Nov. 7, but MLS will take a break from May 25 to July 16 to accommodate the World Cup. You can find the full schedule on the MLS website, but here's a small snapshot of upcoming matches. 

Feb. 21

  • St. Louis City vs. Charlotte FC (2:30 p.m. ET)
  • FC Cincinnati vs. Atlanta United (4:45 p.m. ET)
  • DC United vs. Philadelphia Union (7:30 p.m. ET)
  • Orlando City vs. Red Bull New York (7:30 p.m. ET)
  • FC Dallas vs. Toronto FC (8:30 p.m. ET)
  • LAFC vs. Inter Miami (9:30 p.m. ET) Walmart Saturday Showdown
  • San Diego FC vs. CF Montréal (10:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 22

  • LA Galaxy vs. New York City (7 p.m. ET)
  • Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids (9:15 p.m. ET)

Feb. 28

  • Red Bull New York vs. New England Revolution (2:30 p.m. ET)
  • Chicago Fire vs. CF Montréal (2:30 p.m. ET)
  • Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC (7:30 p.m. ET) Walmart Saturday Showdown
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