Major League Soccer: ESPN Releases National TV Schedule

Ever since Major League Soccer became a thing in 1996, ESPN has been the main provider of their coverage. Since then, the league has seen massive growth with 13  franchises setting up shop alongside the original 10. And as the league’s grown, so has the coverage. For the upcoming MLS season, ESPN will broadcast 31 regular-season games, the All-Star Game, about half the postseason and the MLS Cup — per the recent ESPN press release by Mac Nwulu.

Here are the highlights from ESPN’s press release:

• 28 of the 31 matches will be on the flagship ESPN channel, with the other three getting the ESPN2 treatment.
• All 31 matches will be streamed on the ESPN app and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes +.
• ESPN’s schedule kicks off on Sunday, March 4 with the Seattle Sounders hosting Los Angeles FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. It will be LAFC’s first official game.
• The Hudson River Derby on May 3rd between New York’s two franchises — New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls.
• A May 13th game which features the best rivalry in all of Major League Soccer (Portland vs. Seattle) — also known as the Cascadia Cup.
• The 2018 MLS All-Star Game Presented by Target on August 1st — a game which now features the best players from the MLS against a top-tier international team (which will be announced later on).
• The Los Angeles Derby — another rivalry matchup between the LA Galaxy and LAFC — on August 24th.

Complete schedule below, per ESPN.

(Schedule Subject to Change)