Major League Soccer (MLS) has modified its broadcast schedule in anticipation of the 2025 season. Named “Sunday Night Soccer,” the league intends to have a weekly prime-time game to complement the usual Saturday evening games. The league’s visibility has increased by partnering with Apple TV to collaborate, enhancing the fan viewing experience.
The decision to begin Sunday evening games is part of MLS’s strategy to increase exposure and connect with a more general audience. The league hopes to increase its visibility in the cutthroat sports sector by highlighting a unique primetime slot and generating buzz for marquee games. Given soccer’s increasing appeal in the States, this could be a great development for MLS and its supporters.
With a worth of $2.5 billion, Apple and MLS are commencing the third year of their remarkable ten-year broadcast agreement. This agreement has already changed how fans view MLS material by providing access to every game through the Apple TV platform. The beginning of this new soccer series seals the partnership more and means fans will have more chances to interact with the league daily.
The introduction of Sunday Night Soccer marks a significant shift in the league’s scheduling approach. This addition guarantees that MLS is featured effectively on primetime weekly, instead of previous seasons when Saturday night was the top matchday. Top-tier broadcasters will provide English and Spanish coverage for every Sunday night game and thorough pre- and post-match analysis.
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, is enthusiastic about this new plan. He stressed the critical nature of growing the league’s viewership and getting MLS more followers globally, thanks partly to the Apple collaboration. The 2025 season looks to be among the most ambitious in the league’s history, given the release of Onside: Major League Soccer on Apple TV+ and the opening of a new studio for thorough coverage.
Our partnership with Apple has redefined how fans experience Major League Soccer, bringing the league to more people around the world than ever before. With the addition of ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ a new studio, and the debut of Onside: Major League Soccer on Apple TV+, 2025 will be our best season yet. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of our partnership with Apple.
Don Garber said in a statement
MLS has also disclosed its club assignments for many national and regional competitions in 2025 and its fresh broadcasting schedule. The structural changes to competitions such as the U.S. and the League Cup are. Open Cup has left many teams unsure of their chances. The league has since clarified which teams will participate in these important competitions.
Concerning the 2025 United States Open Cup, MLS will augment its participation from eight first-team clubs in 2024 to 16 together with 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams. This modification shows the league’s dedication to growing its presence in the oldest operating football tournament in the nation. Conversely, MLS has changed its number of Leagues Cup entries to 18 teams to be analogous to Liga MX. Qualification for the event has been achieved by the top nine teams from every conference in the 2024 season.
The introduction of Sunday Night Soccer and the organizational adjustments to local leagues underline MLS’s continued development. Apple’s support and a broadened broadcast approach will help the league greatly increase fan interaction and visibility. These changes will go a long way toward determining North American soccer’s future as MLS expands. The league and its fans have an interesting year in store for 2025. For more fearless sports coverage, visit Stadium Rant.
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