Leagues: MLS
Comentarios

FOX begins new MLS era in competition with MLS Season Pass

Christopher Harris
FOX begins new MLS era in competition with MLS Season Pass
FOX begins new MLS era in competition with MLS Season Pass

Under their new TV deal with Major League Soccer, FOX Sports no longer have exclusive rights. Since FOX Sports are the only television partner left for MLS, and every single game is on MLS Season Pass, FOX Sports find themselves in the uncanny position of pimping for Apple TV. At the same time, FOX are also in competition with MLS Season Pass for viewers. Such are the complexities of the new MLS media rights deal.

For instance, starting this opening weekend, the FOX over-the-air network is televising Nashville against NYCFC with John Strong and Stu Holden doing the call with Alexi Lalas sitting in the studio pundit’s chair. However, viewers can opt to watch the game for free on MLS Season Pass. And who are the announcers of the Nashville-NYCFC game on MLS Season Pass? Commentators Keith Costigan and Maurice Edu, who have both worked for FOX in the past.

MLS finds itself needing FOX Sports to help broadcast the league to the casual fans. In doing so, the league is hoping that those games help sell subscriptions to MLS Season Pass. For FOX Sports, the benefits of the relationship are less clear. Certainly the broadcaster wants US Men’s National Team fans to embrace the network in the lead-up to FOX’s coverage of FIFA World Cup 2026.

FOX in competition with MLS Season Pass

For the 2023 MLS TV schedule, FOX Sports have 15 regular season games on FOX and 19 on FS1. Of those 34, select games air live on FOX Deportes.

Calling matches for FOX Deportes are talent including John Laguna and Rodolfo Landeros, Claudio Suarez, Mariano Trujillo, Martin “Pulpo” Zuñiga and Alvaro Izquierdo.

Advertisement

On the English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, FOX Sports have coverage from 2023 through 2026. In addition to the previously mentioned regular season games, FOX Sports have the TV rights to the MLS Cup final as well as eight MLS Cup playoff matches each season.

For English-language Leagues Cup coverage, FOX’s channels have linear broadcasts of those games. The linear channels carry 10 group stage, four round of 32 and two round of 16 clashes. Notably, the Leagues Cup Final does not have English-language linear TV coverage. Instead, that is available exclusively through MLS Season Pass.

Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Guide to Major League Soccer

Here are some resources to help you get the most out of MLS Season Pass!
TV Schedule: All the info on where and when to watch every game
Season Pass FAQ: We answer your questions about MLS Season Pass
Sign up: Learn how to subscribe to MLS Season Pass
Commentators: Check out who's calling the action for the MLS season
Android users Tips for fans Android users on how to watch MLS Season Pass
Advertisement
200+ Channels With Sports & News
200+ Channels With Sports & News
  • Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
  • Watch Premier League, Liga MX & Copa Libertadores
The New Home of MLS
The New Home of MLS
  • Price: $14.99/mo. for MLS Season Pass
  • Watch every MLS game including playoffs & Leagues Cup
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
Many Sports & ESPN Originals
  • Price: $10.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $14.99/mo.)
  • Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, NWSL, & USL
2,000+ soccer games per year
2,000+ soccer games per year
  • Price: $7.99/mo
  • Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & EFL
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
175 Premier League Games & PL TV
  • Starting price: $7.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
  • Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season

EDITORS’ PICKS

USL builds better mousetrap for US soccer with plans for new D1

USL builds better mousetrap for US soccer with plans for new D1

As Alexi Lalas once said, "There is nothing stopping others from trying to build a better mousetrap." Based on preliminary details announced Thursday, the United Soccer League (USL) may have unlocked that mousetrap with a plan to launch a USL Premier League division in 2027 as a Division I league, pending approval from the US […]

Apple TV arrives on Android: A perfect match for MLS fans

Apple TV arrives on Android: A perfect match for MLS fans

Better late than never, Apple has added the Apple TV app to the Google Play Store to make it available to millions of Android users in the United States. As a consequence, that means that soccer fans can finally watch MLS Season Pass via an app on their Android mobile phones starting with the 2025 […]

US Soccer called to task after winning NASL antitrust lawsuit

US Soccer called to task after winning NASL antitrust lawsuit

After seven long years of waiting for NASL's antitrust lawsuit against US Soccer and MLS to go to trial, a verdict was reached earlier this week in favor of USSF and Major League Soccer. As my good friend Kartik Krishnaiyer wrote this week, "The complexity of business issues that impact lower division soccer in the […]

Free MLS Season Pass: Will It Pay Off for the League?

Free MLS Season Pass: Will It Pay Off for the League?

T-Mobile is bringing back its offer to allow customers to get a free MLS Season Pass subscription. After offering it for free to T-Mobile subscribers in 2023, MLS decided to skip the offer in 2024. Thankfully for T-Mobile customers, MLS Season Pass will be free beginning February 18, 2025, with offer details available through the […]

World Soccer Talk © 2025. Made in Florida.

World Soccer Talk, like Futbol Sites, is a company owned by Better Collective. All rights reserved. World Soccer Talk is reader-supported and may earn a commission through our partner links.

Better Collective Logo