MLS TV & Streaming / How to Watch

What Channel Is MLS On? The Quick-Answer Guide for 2026

Find out exactly where to watch MLS in 2026. Apple TV is the primary home, with FOX, ESPN, and ABC carrying national windows. Channel numbers by provider and how the Apple TV app works.

The short answer: Apple TV. Since 2023, every MLS match -- regular season, playoffs, MLS Cup, Leagues Cup, All-Star Game -- is available on the Apple TV app through MLS Season Pass. There is no single cable channel number because Apple TV is a streaming app, not a traditional TV channel.

But there is more to the story. A handful of MLS games each week also air on traditional television channels: FOX, FS1, ESPN, and ABC. If you have cable, satellite, or a live TV streaming service, you can watch those select national broadcasts without opening the Apple TV app.

This guide gives you the full picture: how to find MLS on Apple TV, which traditional channels carry games, channel numbers by provider, and how to figure out where any specific match is airing.

The Primary Home: Apple TV

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is where every game lives. It is not a channel in the traditional sense -- it is a section within the Apple TV app, similar to how Netflix is an app rather than a channel number.

How to Access MLS on Apple TV

  1. Download the Apple TV app (free) on your device. It is available on:

    • iPhones, iPads, and Macs
    • Apple TV streaming boxes
    • Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio smart TVs
    • Roku and Amazon Fire TV
    • PlayStation and Xbox consoles
    • Chromecast with Google TV
    • Any web browser at tv.apple.com

  2. Sign in with your Apple ID

  3. Subscribe to either:

    • Apple TV+ ($9.99/month) -- includes MLS Season Pass plus all Apple TV+ shows and movies
    • MLS Season Pass standalone ($14.99/month or $99/season) -- MLS content only
    • Or watch the 1-2 free games per week with just a free Apple ID

  4. Navigate to MLS Season Pass within the app. You will see live matches, upcoming games, replays, and highlights.

For a full pricing breakdown, see our MLS Apple TV cost guide.

What If I Don't Have a Smart TV?

If your TV does not have the Apple TV app built in, you have several options:

  • Apple TV streaming box ($129 for Apple TV 4K) -- plugs into any TV with an HDMI port
  • Roku ($29+) -- the Apple TV app is available on all Roku devices
  • Amazon Fire TV Stick ($29+) -- Apple TV app available
  • Chromecast with Google TV ($29+) -- Apple TV app available
  • Gaming console -- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S all have the Apple TV app
  • Laptop/desktop -- go to tv.apple.com in any web browser and mirror or cast to your TV

The most cost-effective option for someone who just wants MLS on their TV is a Roku Express ($29) plus an Apple TV+ subscription ($9.99/month).

Traditional TV Channels That Carry MLS

While Apple TV has every game, a small selection of MLS matches each week air on traditional broadcast and cable channels. These are part of secondary rights windows that run alongside the Apple deal.

FOX and FS1

FOX and FS1 carry MLS matches primarily on Saturdays and Sundays. FOX broadcasts are available over-the-air with an antenna; FS1 requires a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription.

Typical schedule:

  • Saturday afternoon: 1 match on FOX or FS1 (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET window)
  • Occasional Sunday match on FOX

Channel numbers by provider:

| Provider | FOX | FS1 | |----------|-----|-----| | Comcast/Xfinity | Varies by market | 150 | | DirecTV | Varies by market | 219 | | DirecTV Stream | Varies by market | 219 | | Dish Network | Varies by market | 150 | | Spectrum | Varies by market | Varies | | Verizon Fios | Varies by market | 150 | | YouTube TV | Included | Included | | Hulu + Live TV | Included | Included | | fuboTV | Included | Included | | Sling TV Blue | Not included | Included |

FOX is a local broadcast channel, so the exact channel number depends on your market. You can find it by searching your zip code on foxsports.com or using your TV's channel scan function.

ESPN and ABC

ESPN carries MLS matches primarily on Sundays and occasionally on Wednesdays. ABC carries select Saturday and Sunday afternoon matches. ABC is available over-the-air with an antenna.

Typical schedule:

  • Sunday: 1 match on ESPN or ABC (varies, usually afternoon or early evening)
  • Wednesday: Occasional midweek match on ESPN or ESPN2

Channel numbers by provider:

| Provider | ESPN | ESPN2 | ABC | |----------|------|-------|-----| | Comcast/Xfinity | 30 | 31 | Varies by market (OTA) | | DirecTV | 206 | 209 | Varies by market | | DirecTV Stream | 206 | 209 | Varies by market | | Dish Network | 140 | 143 | Varies by market | | Spectrum | Varies | Varies | Varies | | Verizon Fios | 70 | 74 | Varies by market | | YouTube TV | Included | Included | Included | | Hulu + Live TV | Included | Included | Included | | fuboTV | Included | Not included | Included | | Sling TV Orange | Included | Included | Not included |

Univision and TUDN

Spanish-language MLS coverage is available on Univision (over-the-air) and TUDN (cable/streaming). Select matches air each week, typically featuring clubs with large Latino fanbases.

| Provider | Univision | TUDN | |----------|-----------|------| | Comcast/Xfinity | Varies by market | Varies | | DirecTV | 402 | 464 | | Dish Network | Varies | 846 | | YouTube TV | Included | Not included | | fuboTV | Included | Included |

How to Tell Where a Specific Game Is Airing

Not every match is on traditional TV. The vast majority (roughly 85-90%) are Apple TV exclusives. Here is how to determine where a specific match is airing:

Method 1: Check Our Matches Page

Our matches page lists every MLS fixture with broadcast information. Find today's games, this week's schedule, and upcoming matches with the channel or platform listed for each.

Method 2: Apple TV App

Open the Apple TV app and go to MLS Season Pass. Every match shows its broadcast information. If a game is also airing on FOX or ESPN, it will be noted on the match listing.

Method 3: MLS App or Website

The official MLS app (free on iOS and Android) and mlssoccer.com/schedule show every match with broadcast details. Each listing indicates whether the match is on Apple TV only, Apple TV + FOX, Apple TV + ESPN, etc.

Method 4: Your Team's Page

Visit your team's page on The MLS Pulse for their specific schedule. For example:

Every team page includes upcoming matches with broadcast information and kickoff times.

The MLS Broadcast Landscape: A Quick History

Understanding why MLS is on Apple TV requires a brief look at how the league got here.

The Old Model (Pre-2023)

Before the Apple deal, MLS broadcast rights were split across multiple partners:

  • ESPN/ESPN2 carried national games on weeknights and weekends
  • FOX/FS1 had a package of national weekend games
  • Univision/TUDN handled Spanish-language rights
  • ESPN+ streamed non-nationally televised, out-of-market games (with blackouts for local markets)
  • Local RSNs (Regional Sports Networks) carried in-market games for each club

This meant that watching your local team required figuring out which RSN carried the games in your area, whether your cable package included that RSN, and whether the game was blacked out on ESPN+ because you lived in the local market. It was a mess. Fans routinely complained that they could not figure out how to watch their own team.

The Apple Era (2023-Present)

In 2023, Apple TV became the single home for all MLS matches. The deal simplified everything: one app, every game, no blackouts. FOX and ESPN retained small secondary windows for national broadcasts, but the primary rights moved entirely to Apple.

For the full story of how the Apple deal works and what it means for fans, see our MLS on Apple TV guide. For a broader history of MLS broadcasting, check our MLS on TV deep dive.

Which Setup Is Best for You?

The right way to watch MLS depends on what kind of fan you are:

"I want every game, every team"

Get Apple TV+ ($9.99/month). This gives you MLS Season Pass (every match, no blackouts) plus Apple's full content library. This is the best value option for an MLS superfan.

"I just want to watch my team"

Get Apple TV+ ($9.99/month). Even if you only care about one club, Apple TV is the only guaranteed way to see every one of your team's matches. Under the old model, you might have gotten away with a local RSN, but that option no longer exists.

"I only want to watch for free"

Use the free tier. Create a free Apple ID, open the Apple TV app, and watch the 1-2 free games offered each week. Additionally, games on FOX and ABC are free over-the-air with an antenna. Between free Apple TV games and antenna broadcasts, you can watch 2-4 free MLS matches per week during the season.

For more on free viewing options, see our MLS free streams guide.

"I want MLS plus other sports"

If you also watch NFL, NBA, MLB, and other sports, you likely already have a live TV streaming service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or fuboTV). These include FOX, FS1, ESPN, and ABC, which gives you the handful of nationally televised MLS games each week. Add Apple TV+ ($9.99/month) for the full MLS package.

| Service | Monthly Cost | MLS Coverage | |---------|-------------|--------------| | Apple TV+ | $9.99 | Every MLS match (via MLS Season Pass) | | YouTube TV | $72.99 | FOX, FS1, ESPN, ABC national MLS games | | Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 | FOX, FS1, ESPN, ABC national MLS games | | fuboTV | $79.99 | FOX, FS1, ESPN, ABC national MLS games | | Apple TV+ + YouTube TV | $82.98 | Every MLS match + all other sports |

What About Bars and Restaurants?

MLS matches on Apple TV are available in commercial venues. Apple offers a commercial subscription for bars and restaurants that allows them to show MLS Season Pass content. If your local sports bar has the Apple TV app, they can show any MLS match.

Games on FOX, ESPN, and ABC are available at any venue that has those channels, which is virtually every sports bar in the country.

If you are looking for a place to watch with fellow supporters, most MLS clubs have official supporter groups that organize watch parties at designated bars. Check your club's supporter group website or social media for locations.

Quick Reference: Where Is MLS On?

| Match Type | Where to Watch | |------------|---------------| | Any regular-season game | Apple TV (MLS Season Pass) | | National Saturday game | Apple TV + FOX or FS1 | | National Sunday game | Apple TV + ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC | | Playoff matches | Apple TV (all rounds) | | MLS Cup Final | Apple TV + FOX | | Leagues Cup | Apple TV | | All-Star Game | Apple TV + ESPN | | Free games (no subscription) | Apple TV (free tier, 1-2 per week) | | Over-the-air (antenna) | FOX and ABC (select national games) |

Stay on Top of the Schedule

The MLS schedule changes week to week, and specific broadcast assignments can shift. The best way to stay current:

For the full breakdown of MLS on Apple TV -- the deal, the history, the pros and cons -- see our comprehensive MLS on Apple TV guide. For pricing details and which subscription tier makes sense for you, check the MLS Apple TV cost guide.

MLS is on Apple TV. That is the answer. For the 10-15% of matches that also air on traditional television, check FOX, FS1, ESPN, or ABC. The days of needing a decoder ring to figure out where your team is playing are over.