How to Watch Sporting KC and MLS in 2023
There is basically an option and you should find out before the season starts.
2023 offers a whole new way to watch MLS around the world. Major League Soccer and Apple have agreed on a monumental new deal that will last for the next 10 years. It’s available in 100+ countries (complete list) and that’s it only available through the MLS Season Pass.
What is included in the MLS Season Pass?
Every single MLS game, no blackouts! These include the Regular Season, Playoffs, MLS All-Star Game, Campeones Cup, redesigned Leagues Cup with Liga MX and a whole host of MLS Next Pro and MLS Next games. There is also the MLS Pre-Game Countdown (30 minutes before kick-off) and the MLS Wrap-Up Post-Game Show (at least 30 minutes after the game). There will also be a live whip-around show (MLS 360) rotating from game to game across the league for five hours on Saturday night (6:30pm CT to 11:30pm CT).
How to get the MLS Season Pass
There are four ways to get the new MLS Season Pass.
Do you have MLS season tickets
If you’re a season pass member of any of MLS’s 29-league clubs, you’ll receive an annual subscription to the Apple MLS Season Pass. If you haven’t received your link yet, contact your Season Pass representative.
Pay monthly
You can purchase a monthly membership for $14.99 if you’re not an Apple TV+ subscriber or if you already have Apple TV+, it’s only $12.99 per month.
Pay annually
Alternatively, if you know you want to see all the games (or have the opportunity), you can pay $99.99 per year as a non-member or $79.99 per year as a member. As a little cheat, you can also sign up for any of the Apple TV+ trials, discounted or free offers, and sign up for the discounted annual membership.
Don’t sign up, but still get 40 percent of the games
If you don’t want to commit to paying monthly or annually, Apple says 40 percent of games won’t be behind the paywall each week.
Where games won’t be
You can no longer just get all the games with a cable or satellite subscription. All teams had to end their local broadcast deals before this season so they wouldn’t appear on any of the regional sports networks or other places you might have found your team in years past.
This shouldn’t be anything new for fans of Sporting Kansas City. Last year they canceled their contract with Fox Sports KC and released the games for free on their website and via the Sporting KC app. That won’t happen again.
However, there will be a small selection of games on FS1, Fox or Fox Deportes. Despite this, all games on these networks will also be included in Apple’s MLS Season Pass. Every game will be available in the MLS Season Pass including the new Leagues Cup with Liga MX.
Put simply, you must have the MLS Season Pass to see it every Game.
Where to watch the MLS Season Pass
You can basically watch on any internet-connected device by going to tv.apple.com. Most people watch the Apple TV app on any Apple device, Roku, smart TV, streaming device, set-top box (through some cable/satellite providers), or even video game consoles.
Apple has compiled a comprehensive list of where its app is available, which you can check if you’re unsure.
Free through T-Mobile
Beginning February 21, T-Mobile customers can redeem a free subscription to the MLS Season Pass through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app, where they are giving away free items to their customers every Tuesday.
The promotion runs until March 14th, so sign up and get the whole year free.
Share your membership
Apple has a program called Family Sharing, which allows a member to share most purchased content, including the MLS Season Pass, with five family members. The restrictions on who can be in your “family” aren’t clear, but Apple gives more details here.
For any topic you’re still unsure about, I’d read World Soccer Talk’s fantastic FAQ for instructions on installing the app on multiple devices and signing up.
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