In 2022, Apple and Major League Soccer agreed to a big deal that made Apple TV the streaming provider for all of the league’s matches (local broadcasters still offered games on network TV). However, those matches required a paid subscription. That paywall is going away for the upcoming 2026 MLS season, according to The Athletic.
MLS matches next season will simply be part of a regular Apple TV subscription, according to the report. An Apple TV subscription is $12.99/£12.99 per month, or $99 per year. Previously, Apple offered MLS Season Pass, which was $14.99 per month or $99 per year (an Apple TV subscription was not required). Neither Apple nor MLS has made an official announcement about the change.
While the report may seem surprising, the signs that foretold a change were apparent. The 2026 MLS playoffs (which are happening now) are not behind a paywall on Apple TV. Earlier this year, reports stated that MLS commissioner Dan Garber called Apple “a great technology partner,” but there were questions on whether Apple TV was the best venue for the league’s efforts to expand its fanbase. Apple and MLS began a ten-year deal that started with the 2023 season.
The changes come a month after Apple and Formula 1 signed a five-year deal for Apple TV to stream all F1 races. In that deal, practices, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix will be available to Apple TV subscribers, and select races and all practice sessions will be available for free in the Apple TV app. F1 TV Premium will continue to be available in the U.S. via an Apple TV subscription only for $17 per month.