Overview
- Major League Soccer resumed regular-season play on Thursday, July 16, with Apple TV streaming every match to subscribers in more than 100 countries with no extra fee or local blackouts.
- Apple highlighted six marquee fixtures across July 16–17, including Seattle vs. Portland and LA Galaxy vs. LAFC, and two matches that week will also air on FOX.
- A record 45 MLS players who featured at the 2026 World Cup are set to return to their clubs this week, increasing demand for matches and spotlighting stars such as Lionel Messi.
- The league’s summer window added high-profile signings including Antoine Griezmann at Orlando City and Robert Lewandowski at Chicago Fire, reshaping perceptions of MLS competitiveness.
- Apple is running cross-platform fan features—Matchday Guides in Maps, MLS playlists on Apple Music, a Thomas Müller Time to Walk on Fitness+, and live coverage in the Apple Sports app—which complements MLS planning for a 2027 calendar shift and could boost global exposure and attendance.