MLS ditches Season Pass, moves all games to Apple TV in 2026

According to CNBC, Major League Soccer is making a huge change to its streaming setup starting in the 2026 season by moving all games from the separate Season Pass subscription to the main Apple TV platform. The league and Apple originally signed a 10-year media rights deal back in 2022 that made Apple the exclusive global home for MLS, but they launched Season Pass as a separate $14.99 monthly subscription rather than putting games on Apple TV itself. MLS Deputy Commissioner Gary Stevenson confirmed that conversations about the shift started as Apple’s main streaming platform grew, with Apple approaching the league about the move. The change comes after Season Pass launched in 2023 and MLS Commissioner Don Garber previously claimed subscriptions had exceeded expectations, though neither company releases specific subscriber numbers.

The streaming strategy shift

This is actually a pretty significant pivot from Apple‘s original approach. When they first landed the MLS rights, they created this separate subscription product – basically a walled garden just for soccer fans. Now they’re tearing down those walls and bringing everything into the main Apple TV platform. It’s a clear admission that the fragmented subscription model isn’t working as well as they hoped.

Here’s the thing – asking soccer fans to pay $14.99 on top of whatever else they’re already paying for streaming services was always going to be a tough sell. Even though MLS leadership says Season Pass performed better than expected, moving to the main platform gives them access to Apple’s entire subscriber base. And while Apple doesn’t release specific numbers, Eddy Cue has said they have “significantly more than 45 million” viewers on Apple TV. That’s a much bigger potential audience than a niche soccer subscription could ever hope for.

Apple’s sports ambitions

This move fits perfectly with Apple’s broader sports strategy. They’re not just dabbling in sports streaming – they’re going all in. Remember, they just locked down Formula 1 with a five-year exclusive deal worth about $140 million annually. They’re building a serious sports portfolio, and consolidating everything onto their main platform makes strategic sense.

What’s really interesting is how Apple is positioning itself against the current streaming chaos. Eddy Cue recently said the market has “gone backwards” because consumers now need multiple subscriptions to watch what they used to get with one cable package. By putting MLS on Apple TV instead of keeping it separate, they’re trying to create that unified experience again. It’s a smart play in an increasingly fragmented market where even die-hard sports fans are getting subscription fatigue.

MLS growth momentum

For MLS, this couldn’t come at a better time. The league is riding some serious momentum with Lionel Messi driving unprecedented interest in Inter Miami and the World Cup coming to North America next year. Moving to the main Apple TV platform gives them maximum exposure right when soccer interest in the US is peaking.

But let’s be real – MLS still has a long way to go to compete with the NFL or NBA. The league has always struggled with visibility and accessibility. Having all games in one place on a major platform like Apple TV could be the game-changer they’ve needed. No more hunting through different channels or services – it’s all right there. For a league that’s constantly fighting for attention, that simplicity matters.

What this means for fans

So what does this actually mean for people who want to watch soccer? Basically, starting in 2026, you won’t need that separate Season Pass subscription. All MLS games will be included with your regular Apple TV subscription. That’s one less monthly charge to worry about, which is definitely a win for fans.

The bigger question is whether this signals a broader shift in how Apple approaches sports rights. As The Hollywood Reporter noted, Apple has been methodically building its sports portfolio, and this consolidation move suggests they’re learning what works and what doesn’t in the streaming sports world. If this MLS integration succeeds, don’t be surprised if other sports properties follow the same path onto the main Apple TV platform.