Apple has announced that Lionel Messi's MLS Cup Playoffs debut will be streamed for free on MLS Season Pass.
Lionel Messi makes his historic MLS Cup Playoffs debut this Friday, October 25, as the playoffs return to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for a free primetime match. The top-seeded Inter Miami CF kicks off against Atlanta United FC at 8:30 p.m. EDT for the Round One Best-of-3 Series. After joining Inter Miami CF last season and leading the club to claim the Supporters' Shield and single-season points record earlier this month, Messi is aiming to reach yet another milestone in his legendary career with a record 47th trophy.
"We're offering Friday's match to fans worldwide on MLS Season Pass at no cost to celebrate an amazing season and Messi making his first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services. "This is a historic moment, and we're thrilled that viewers have such an extensive array of ways to watch."
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will air every playoff match as top-ranked clubs — including defending MLS Cup and Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winners Los Angeles FC, and more — vie to claim the 29th MLS Cup. The MLS Cup final will be played on December 7.
More Ways to Watch
In addition to broadcasting free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Friday night's match will also stream live on apple.com and in Apple Store locations across the world, including Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City, Apple Union Square in San Francisco, and Apple The Grove in Los Angeles, in addition to Apple Store locations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Mexico.
Fans on TikTok can enjoy a special "Player Spotlight: Messi" presentation of Friday's match where the camera will be trained on Messi as he lights up the pitch. The stream will broadcast live on the @MLS TikTok profile and be simulcast on the @InterMiamiCF TikTok profile, beginning five minutes before kickoff. This will mark the first time TikTok has streamed an entire live soccer match with a single-player focus. Fans can register on TikTok to stream the live event.
The match will be provided at no additional cost to all DIRECTV residential satellite customers on channel 622 and all DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS customers on channel 9475.
Round One Best-of-3 Series: Game One Schedule
Friday, October 25
Inter Miami CF vs. Atlanta United FC
8:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, October 26
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids
11 p.m. EDT
Sunday, October 27
Orlando City SC vs. Charlotte FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
LAFC vs. TBD (winner of today's Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers wild card match)
9:45 p.m. EDT
Monday, October 28
FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC
6:45 p.m. EDT
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC
9 p.m. EDT
Tuesday, October 29
Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls
6:45 p.m. EDTReal Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC
9 p.m. EDT
How to Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS Season Pass will broadcast every match of the postseason, including the MLS Cup final presented by Audi. MLS Season Pass is available through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their physical space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and in Spatial Audio for an even more immersive viewing experience.
Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can sign up for MLS Season Pass for $9.99 for the remainder of the season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up for a subscription to MLS Season Pass for free for the remainder of the 2024 season. For more information, and to subscribe to MLS Season Pass, visit apple.co/_MLS_.
Follow the MLS Cup Playoffs with the Apple Sports App
The free Apple Sports app for iPhone is the best way for fans to stay up to date on scores, stats, standings, and their favorite clubs throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. Users can easily navigate between scores and upcoming games, explore play-by-play information, team stats, lineup details, live betting odds, and tap to watch matches on MLS Season Pass in the Apple TV app. Apple Sports also seamlessly syncs with favorites selected within the My Sports experience, including in the Apple TV app and Apple News. With iOS 18 and watchOS 11, the Apple Sports app now offers Live Activities for all teams and leagues available in the app for the first time ever, delivering live scores and play-by-play info at a quick glance to a user's iPhone and Apple Watch Lock Screens.
Lionel Messi makes his historic MLS Cup Playoffs debut this Friday, October 25, as the playoffs return to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for a free primetime match. The top-seeded Inter Miami CF kicks off against Atlanta United FC at 8:30 p.m. EDT for the Round One Best-of-3 Series. After joining Inter Miami CF last season and leading the club to claim the Supporters' Shield and single-season points record earlier this month, Messi is aiming to reach yet another milestone in his legendary career with a record 47th trophy.
"We're offering Friday's match to fans worldwide on MLS Season Pass at no cost to celebrate an amazing season and Messi making his first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services. "This is a historic moment, and we're thrilled that viewers have such an extensive array of ways to watch."
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will air every playoff match as top-ranked clubs — including defending MLS Cup and Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup winners Los Angeles FC, and more — vie to claim the 29th MLS Cup. The MLS Cup final will be played on December 7.
More Ways to Watch
In addition to broadcasting free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Friday night's match will also stream live on apple.com and in Apple Store locations across the world, including Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City, Apple Union Square in San Francisco, and Apple The Grove in Los Angeles, in addition to Apple Store locations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Mexico.
Fans on TikTok can enjoy a special "Player Spotlight: Messi" presentation of Friday's match where the camera will be trained on Messi as he lights up the pitch. The stream will broadcast live on the @MLS TikTok profile and be simulcast on the @InterMiamiCF TikTok profile, beginning five minutes before kickoff. This will mark the first time TikTok has streamed an entire live soccer match with a single-player focus. Fans can register on TikTok to stream the live event.
The match will be provided at no additional cost to all DIRECTV residential satellite customers on channel 622 and all DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS customers on channel 9475.
Round One Best-of-3 Series: Game One Schedule
Friday, October 25
Inter Miami CF vs. Atlanta United FC
8:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, October 26
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids
11 p.m. EDT
Sunday, October 27
Orlando City SC vs. Charlotte FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
LAFC vs. TBD (winner of today's Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers wild card match)
9:45 p.m. EDT
Monday, October 28
FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC
6:45 p.m. EDT
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC
9 p.m. EDT
Tuesday, October 29
Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls
6:45 p.m. EDTReal Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC
9 p.m. EDT
How to Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS Season Pass will broadcast every match of the postseason, including the MLS Cup final presented by Audi. MLS Season Pass is available through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their physical space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and in Spatial Audio for an even more immersive viewing experience.
Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can sign up for MLS Season Pass for $9.99 for the remainder of the season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up for a subscription to MLS Season Pass for free for the remainder of the 2024 season. For more information, and to subscribe to MLS Season Pass, visit apple.co/_MLS_.
Follow the MLS Cup Playoffs with the Apple Sports App
The free Apple Sports app for iPhone is the best way for fans to stay up to date on scores, stats, standings, and their favorite clubs throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. Users can easily navigate between scores and upcoming games, explore play-by-play information, team stats, lineup details, live betting odds, and tap to watch matches on MLS Season Pass in the Apple TV app. Apple Sports also seamlessly syncs with favorites selected within the My Sports experience, including in the Apple TV app and Apple News. With iOS 18 and watchOS 11, the Apple Sports app now offers Live Activities for all teams and leagues available in the app for the first time ever, delivering live scores and play-by-play info at a quick glance to a user's iPhone and Apple Watch Lock Screens.