A revised agreement shortens the Apple TV partnership with Major League Soccer by years, and clears the way for the league to reenter the media rights market after the 2026 World Cup.
Apple and MLS announced changes to their agreement in mid-November 2025. League owners were informed of the change in the terms during meetings held in Florida.
The revisions reduce the original 10-year agreement to a shorter term. Payments will increase during the next three seasons under the new terms.
Apple's option to exit in 2027 has been removed, with both parties describing the changes as a positive development. However, the reasons behind the shift are more complex than they appear.
The original contract launched in 2023 and ran through 2032. It put every MLS match on Apple's platform without blackouts, which was a first for a major U.S. league.
That ambition came with tradeoffs, as MLS reduced its linear TV partnerships. Instead, they directed fans to the MLS Season Pass, a $14.99 subscription.
Revised terms bring bigger checks and a shorter runway
The updated payments tell the real story. Sportico reporting shows MLS will receive $200 million for the 2026 season, $107.5 million for the shortened 2027 campaign, and $275 million for 2027 to 2028 and 2028 to 2029 seasons.
The math leaves MLS about $50 million ahead of the old structure, which spread similar totals over a longer timeline. It's a helpful cushion while the league prepares for its biggest structural shift in years.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said the changes were "very positive," which tracks with the financial lift. The league is about to flip its calendar in July 2027, moving from a spring to fall format to one that aligns with FIFA's schedule.
The new plan starts in July, breaks in December, resumes in February, and ends with the MLS Cup in May. Apple also gave up its option to end the deal in 2027.
That detail carries weight, since it removes suspense during the World Cup cycle. The 2026 tournament, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is expected to spike interest in soccer.
MLS wants to reenter the media rights market soon after, and a clean, guaranteed path through 2029 helps the league pitch stability to bidders.
Fans get simpler access as everything folds into Apple TV
Apple is moving every MLS match into the base Apple TV subscription, which means regular season games, the Leagues Cup, the All Star Game, the Campeones Cup, and the MLS Cup Playoffs stop living behind a stand-alone paywall. Season ticket holders also get Apple TV included.
Some fans didn't love paying for two subscriptions, and others missed the old mix of cable broadcasts and local coverage. MLS can now keep offering some games to linear partners beyond 2026 instead of cutting them off.
The new plan starts in July, breaks in December, resumes in February, and ends with the MLS Cup in May.
Apple's service strategy plays a role too. Apple TV already carries Friday Night Baseball and U.S. Formula 1 race weekends, and the company is clearly trying to turn the service into a hub for live sports without making users juggle add-ons.
Bundling MLS into the core subscription makes Apple TV appear more generous. This move contrasts with other platforms that have raised prices or paywalled more content.
Bundling can also help Apple retain subscribers. People signing up for soccer aren't just choosing a league. They're joining the broader Apple TV library, which keeps users inside the ecosystem.
A shorter deal, a calmer landing, and a wide-open future
MLS gets higher payments during a disruptive schedule overhaul, plus a chance to test the market earlier than expected. If the World Cup lifts soccer's profile in the United States, MLS might find stronger leverage in 2029 than it had in 2022.
Folding MLS into the standard Apple TV subscription makes the service feel more valuable without raising friction for viewers. It also gives Apple a chance to shape the next era of sports streaming as rivals chase similar deals.
The rewritten deal balances money, convenience, and timing better than the original plan. It also prepares MLS for the next big rights cycle after 2026 and offers fans a simpler way to watch games.
