Apple struck a 10-year global deal with Major League Soccer in 2022, giving Apple TV exclusive worldwide rights to every MLS match from 2023 through 2032 via its MLS Season Pass product. The deal reshaped how Americans and international fans watch MLS and it is particularly relevant to anyone outside North America who wants to watch Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. UK viewers have straightforward access to this.
What football is on Apple TV
Apple’s live football coverage is narrow but deep in what it does cover:
- MLS (Major League Soccer) — every regular season match, every playoff match, the MLS Cup final, all 29 teams through the 2032 season
- Leagues Cup — the summer tournament featuring all MLS and Liga MX teams, played annually
- US Open Cup — selected matches, coverage varies by season
- Documentaries — “Messi Meets America” series, club-focused content, player profiles
Apple TV does not carry Premier League, Champions League, EFL, or any European top-flight competitions.
MLS Season Pass pricing
MLS Season Pass is a standalone product separate from Apple TV+. You can buy it without being an Apple TV+ subscriber, or add it at a discount if you already have Apple TV+.
UK pricing
- MLS Season Pass only: £14.99/month during the season, £99/year
- For Apple TV+ subscribers: £12.99/month during the season, £79/year
- Apple TV+ subscription alone: £8.99/month (gives you access to Apple original shows and films, not MLS matches)
The season runs February through December, roughly. The monthly price applies during the active season window. Annual pricing is better value if you watch through playoffs in November and December.
What you get
- Every MLS match live, with no blackouts
- Every match available on-demand within minutes of the final whistle
- English and Spanish commentary on every match
- Portuguese commentary on Inter Miami matches and selected others
- A dedicated MLS 360 whip-around show on matchdays
- Pre-match and post-match studio programming
- Documentary series and archive content
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami
Messi signed for Inter Miami in July 2023. Every one of his MLS matches is on Apple TV MLS Season Pass globally. For viewers in the UK and elsewhere outside North America, this is the only legal live option for Messi’s MLS games. CBS Sports, Telemundo, and other US broadcasters have secondary or highlight-only rights that are geo-restricted to North America.
Messi’s MLS schedule typically runs:
- Regular season: February through October, around 34 matches
- Leagues Cup: July and August, a mid-season tournament
- Playoffs: October and November, depending on Miami’s qualification
- International breaks disrupt the schedule, and Messi’s Argentina commitments mean he misses some matches
If Messi is your reason for subscribing, budget for the Leagues Cup window specifically. His 2023 Leagues Cup run (where Inter Miami won the trophy on Messi’s debut) is the template.
What MLS Season Pass covers
MLS has 30 teams from 2025 onwards, split into Eastern and Western Conferences. Top fixtures fans outside the US tend to follow:
- Inter Miami — Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets
- LA Galaxy — historical big club, home of past stars including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Landon Donovan
- LAFC — rivals to LA Galaxy, Los Angeles’ second team
- Atlanta United — high-profile expansion club with strong fanbases
- Seattle Sounders — consistent contender, Cascadia Cup rivalry with Portland Timbers
- Toronto FC — the one Canadian-Major-League team with a trophy history
All matches are on MLS Season Pass regardless of team.
Apple TV app and devices
The Apple TV app is the gateway to MLS Season Pass. It runs on:
- iPhone and iPad (iOS 17+ recommended)
- Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD
- Smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, TCL, Hisense
- Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast with Google TV
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
- Web browsers at tv.apple.com
- Android phones via the Apple TV app
Picture quality tops out at 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos audio on supported matches and devices. Most MLS matches are shot in 1080p and upscaled. Playoffs and MLS Cup are typically native 4K.
Free MLS content
A few things are free:
- MLS 360 highlights on YouTube — official MLS YouTube channel uploads goals, match summaries, and selected full matches (rare, usually as promo)
- Match previews and post-match reaction — available on the MLS website and apps without a subscription
- Messi’s Inter Miami goals on social — official MLS clips appear on X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok
These are not a substitute for live matches. To watch a full match live, you need MLS Season Pass.
How Apple TV compares to other services
Apple TV is not trying to compete with Sky Sports or TNT Sports for European football. It is a niche product focused entirely on MLS.
- If you want Premier League: Sky Sports (215 matches) and TNT Sports (52 matches)
- If you want Champions League: TNT Sports, plus free ITVX matches
- If you want MLS or Messi at Inter Miami: Apple TV MLS Season Pass
- If you want boxing or UFC: DAZN (boxing) and TNT Sports (selected UFC events)
A £14.99/month subscription for MLS Season Pass alongside Sky and TNT is a typical “full football package” in the UK if you care about both European and American football.
Frequently asked questions
How much does MLS Season Pass cost in the UK? £14.99/month during the season or £99/year on the standalone plan. Apple TV+ subscribers pay £12.99/month or £79/year.
Do I need Apple TV+ to get MLS Season Pass? No. MLS Season Pass is a separate product. Apple TV+ subscribers get a discount but you can buy Season Pass without any Apple TV+ subscription.
Can I watch Messi’s Inter Miami matches on Apple TV in the UK? Yes. Every Messi MLS match is on MLS Season Pass globally, including the UK. No geo-restrictions apply for subscribers.
Does Apple TV show the Premier League? No. Apple holds no Premier League, Champions League, or European top-flight rights. Apple TV’s football focus is exclusively MLS.
Is MLS Season Pass available on smart TVs? Yes. The Apple TV app is on Samsung, LG, Sony, and most modern smart TVs, plus Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Can I watch MLS matches for free anywhere? Not full live matches. Highlights and goals appear on MLS YouTube. Full matches require MLS Season Pass or a paid partner deal (rare internationally).
Is Hesgoal a legitimate way to watch MLS? No. Apple’s global exclusive deal means MLS matches are only legal on MLS Season Pass. Pirate streams are illegal and often unreliable for MLS because Apple actively monitors and takes them down.
Next steps
If Messi and MLS are your focus, MLS Season Pass is the only legal option in the UK. For Premier League, Champions League, and European football, Apple TV does not help. See our Premier League streaming guide and Champions League streaming guide for that coverage.