Lionel Messi’s historic MLS Cup Playoffs debut to stream free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

This Friday, Lionel Messi makes his historic MLS Cup Playoffs debut, and fans can tune in 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.
Fans can tune in on Apple TV to enjoy the match in its entirety, and have an incredible breadth of options to watch live, including through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs and streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and on the web at tv.apple.com.
Additionally, 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 — are vying to claim the 29th MLS Cup. MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is the only place fans can watch every playoff match with no blackouts, culminating with the MLS Cup final on December 7.
“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 Service, in a statement. “This is a historic moment, and we’re thrilled that viewers have such an extensive array of ways to watch.”
“Our partnership with Apple has brought MLS to global audiences in innovative ways, and making this opening playoff match between Inter Miami and Atlanta United available at no cost is another example of our commitment to connect with fans,” said Don Garber, MLS’s commissioner, in a statement. “The Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are going to be intense from start to finish, so we’re excited to kick things off on Apple TV with this matchup of two great clubs featuring some of our sport’s biggest stars.”
“The history books could be rewritten with the MLS Cup Playoffs, when you consider Inter Miami winning the Supporters’ Shield, breaking the record for most points in a season, and ultimately vying for the MLS Cup,” said Taylor Twellman, MLS Season Pass’s lead analyst, in a statement. “The attention on the playoffs will be unlike anything we’ve seen, because with every trophy Messi wins, he becomes more and more the greatest of all time. And the best part is everyone is coming to try to knock him off the mantle. It’s going to be fun to watch it all unfold.”
“Following 38 matchdays of fantastic regular-season soccer, we’re coming to the most beautiful time of the season,” said Sammy Sadovnik, MLS Season Pass’s Spanish-language play-by-play announcer, in a statement. “Miami’s success will depend on both their ability to maintain the consistency they’ve displayed in the regular season and the talents of Leo Messi, the best player in the world.”
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.
On TikTok, fans can tune in to the MLS Cup Playoffs through a special “Player Spotlight: Messi” presentation.
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
• Sunday, October 27: 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
• Monday, October 28: 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. EDT
• Tuesday, October 29: Real 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_.
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MacDailyNews Note: 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.

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