MLS has the perfect partner in Apple as Messi sparks another American soccer boom

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV gives fans access to every MLS game with no blackouts, in-depth coverage and analysis, an array of exclusive content, and more.
With an MLS Season Pass on Apple TV subscription, fans have access to every MLS game with no blackouts, in-depth coverage and analysis, an array of exclusive content, and more. This extensive coverage includes access to Leagues Cup, MLS All-Star, and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs games. The upcoming 2024 season — kicking off February 21 — is the second in a historic 10-year partnership between Apple and Major League Soccer, following an unforgettable 2023 season marked by record-setting milestones and the arrival of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. Additionally, MLS Season Pass will launch a first-of-its-kind whip-around show for Spanish-speaking fans.
“The first year of our partnership with Major League Soccer exceeded expectations and brought MLS to more fans than ever before,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, earlier this year in a statement.
“Launching MLS Season Pass was a transformational moment for our league as soccer fans throughout the world were able to watch MLS games with no restrictions and with terrific production quality thanks to our partnership with Apple,” said Don Garber, MLS’s commissioner, earlier this year in a statement.
Randall Williams and David Hellier for Bloomberg News:
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[T]his week Jason Kelly, Julie Fine and I met with Clark and Dan Hunt in Texas, where we had a wide-ranging conversation. The brothers are owners of the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the MLS franchise FC Dallas…
What has the Messi moment meant for the MLS and has it been everything you thought it’d be?
He’s inspiring soccer players everywhere. We have the perfect partner in Apple to partner and monopolize on Lionel Messi. The constant programming has been incredible.
How are the preparations for the World Cup going?
The most successful World Cup of all time was the 1994 World Cup. The 2026 World Cup will blow it out of the water, and there will be nothing like it until they come back to the United States.
Preparations are going fast and furious. The beauty of this World Cup is the sustainability of it because we are not building new stadiums. You see the investment Qatar made ($220 billion). We already have amazing buildings.
What do you need to do to ensure the World Cup has a real impact on the growth of soccer in this country?
We’ll be introducing a lot of people in this country to soccer who are still not fans. My biggest hope for the World Cup in 2026 is that it influences generations of boys and girls to pick soccer over other sports and become global superstars.

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MacDailyNews Take: We think the brothers Hunt meant capitalize on Lionel Messi since, with external events like Copa América, it’s clearly not possible for MLS to “monopolize on Lionel Messi.”
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