If you’re trying to find out where to watch MLS on US TV, you’ve come to the right place.
Last updated: August 23, 2019
MLS is gaining popularity with each season. In fact, a recent ESPN poll showed that Major League Soccer has actually caught up with Major League Baseball’s following among 12- to 17-year-olds.
With plenty of new fans, MLS took advantage of a new television deal for 2015-2022. The league struck an eight-year deal with ESPN, FOX Sports, and Univision (for Spanish language telecasts) to broadcast Major League Soccer matches until the end of the 2022 season.
Where to watch MLS on US TV
MLS games are televised across FOX Sports (FS1 or FOX), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Univision Deportes, Univision and UniMas.
Many Saturday MLS games are not available on national TV, but are instead shown on local TV networks (where available) or ESPN+ (paid subscription service). Plus matches are available via the MLS Direct Kick package from some TV providers.
On the new contract, former US Soccer President Sunil Gulati stated, “We are extremely pleased to have extended our partnerships with ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision. The commitment made by our television partners to broadcast such a wide range and quantity of games demonstrates the growing demand for soccer in our country and provides a platform for our growing fan base to follow the game both for club and country.”
ESPN and FOX Sports 1 will alternate the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup each year under the agreement. Both sports networks will share both regular season matches and playoffs games, with Univision being able to air two playoff matches per season.
SEE MORE: Schedule of MLS games on US TV and streaming
In addition to the above coverage, cord cutters and soccer fans can watch MLS games via the following streaming options:
• fuboTV — features access to MLS games on FOX, FS1, Univision, Univision Deportes and UniMás,
• Sling TV — includes FOX, FS1, ESPN and ESPN Deportes,
• Hulu Live — includes FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2 and more.
Every season, MLS teams compete in the US Open Cup, a historic soccer tournament that unfortunately doesn’t get as much love or appreciation from soccer fans and media in the United States.
New for 2019, the inaugural edition of Leagues Cup will feature four clubs from Liga MX and MLS in an eight-team single-elimination tournament that aims to crown the best team of North America.
If you have any questions about where to watch MLS on US TV, let us know in the comments section below.
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MLS on radio
Radio listeners can tune into ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio for live coverage of live MLS matches. Streaming service TuneIn radio provides specialized team broadcasts of many top Major League Soccer clubs. SiriusXM FC also has plenty of coverage and commentary throughout the MLS season.
Many pubs and sports bars also show live matches of MLS games as well. To find a comprehensive list of pubs/sports bars that air your favorite Major League Soccer team’s matches, click here.
READ MORE:
• Comprehensive listing of soccer leagues and competitions on US TV and streaming
• Where to find your favorite soccer leagues on US TV and streaming (in graphics)
• Channels broadcasting soccer leagues in United States (in graphics)
View our comprehensive guides to watching the following leagues:
When does univision air their MLS review show (Somos MLS ?)? you mentioned it in a recent pod, but I don’t see anything in my DTV guide. TY!
The next episode is on Monday at 9pm ET on Univision Deportes Network. I’m not sure if it’s on every Monday at the same time, but it’s worth checking out.
Do you happen to know if this show will be back again for this season? Thanks
Yes, it’s on every Monday night on Univision Deportes this season. It’s entitled “Somos MLS.”
so I was checking on if my MLS live renewed yet, and went looking at the site.
I found this support page
https://live.mlssoccer.com/support/faq/billing
which states “MLS Live is available to end-users free of charge. No credit card payment is required for access.”
is MLS Live free for 2018? am I reading this right? there is a “subscribe” link on live.mlssoccer.com and (think I found answer myself) on the page it goes to says “NEW FOR 2018
You can watch LIVE out-of-market matches at home or on the road for FREE simply by signing up for MLS LIVE.” and then the button on that page just says “Sign up”
Was this know, and I just missed the announcement it would be free this year?
All of the games will be available for free via MLSsoccer.com until ESPN Plus is ready to launch in April or May.
Besides espn+ , which in my opinion is complete garbage compared to the OLD LIVE platform..what other ways can I catch the mls games? I tried to use espn+ but it is horrible….
I tried espn+ also and have the same opinion….gharbage. why are Saturday games NOT available on network ttv? Is there some sort of pla mlm to rum MLS out of the USA? We are left with tons of uninteresting junk sports by the hundreds!! Why???
(Junk sports) ESPN (1, 2, u, deportes, +) represents the worst of manipulative marketing in an attempt to squeeze every last dollar of discretionary spending out of television consumers. You can now see how the college conference networks have learned from ESPN’s lowlife tactics and are following suit by using their control over the individual member universities (and cable TV systems) to geographically split any quality live broadcasts (running mostly junk sports/reruns the rest of the time) and to block all free media broadcasts (TV, locally-produced streaming, and radio). Consumers should refuse to play this game – pay down your debt/save some money for retirement! Kudos to FOX for having some integrity and offering a fair amount of live sports coverage on it’s national network/local affiliates.
(Original question) For what it’s worth – Univision (available OTA in most metro areas) broadcasts one MLS game most Saturday afternoons in Spanish language commentary with English language commentary available via SAP.
OR you could watch real football instead…large energetic crowds do NOT necessarily indicate quality…the MLS is a perfect example…Europe is full of amazing leagues…why waste your time!?