When Apple and Major League Soccer (MLS) announced the groundbreaking 10-year media deal worth $2.5 billion in 2023, soccer fans in the US finally felt relieved. After years of frantically keeping tabs on a plethora of regional networks and online streaming platforms, fans could finally just pay $15 a month and enjoy every single MLS game in one place. While the subscription format did restrict casual followers from the sport, the pros certainly outweighed the cons. Naturally, a rollback now will only make those who have been coughing up the dough all this time feel annoyed.

The MLS-Apple TV deal was a landmark moment for America’s top-tier soccer league. It solved the one problem that even the NFL hasn’t quite figured out yet: bring everything in one place. As the 2025 playoffs approach, fans were eagerly waiting to hop on Apple’s OTT streaming platform for another year of scintillating soccer action. But an unexpected announcement has thrown everyone off guard.

Awful Announcing went on X on October 19 to share that fans could watch this year’s MLS playoffs without needing an Apple TV subscription. “MLS, Apple TV drop Season Pass requirement for playoff matches,” reads the post’s caption. As per Alex Silverman of Sports Business Journal, fans will only need to have an Apple TV subscription to watch the playoff matches, and not a separate MLS Season Pass.

For the most part, the move might indicate that the MLS is trying to make itself more accessible to a wider range of fans. The overall inaccessibility of the league has been a major point of criticism against the same, and given how the MLS commissioner admitted that the viewership numbers from last year were pretty grim, one would think that the removal of the Season Pass was motivated by the thought of removing the barriers. Pretty good news for the fans, right? Especially since this allows more soccer connoisseurs to watch the playoff games. Wrong!

Take a moment to think about all the fans who went out of their way to keep their subscriptions and Season Passes active all this time just to keep up with the league games. For over two years, these fans have paid $15/month. Obviously, many of them felt like they had earned the privilege of being in an exclusive club where the MLS flows freely (it doesn’t flow freely, you gotta cough up money to watch even a single game).

And now, with the Season Pass requirement being made non-compulsory, they have a few things to say about the whole matter.

Fans slam the MLS for the sudden change in its policy

In September this year, VERSANT and the WNBA announced an 11-year media rights agreement. As per this agreement, every WNBA match, including both the regular-season as well as playoff games, will be available to watch on the USA Network. No extra subscription like the MLS’s Season Pass, and available for all. And the best part? It’s on linear television! Obviously, in light of such things, Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass drop has the fans irked. “WNBA negotiated better TV deals than MLS,” one fan-run account of X didn’t hesitate to comment.

The MLS’s viewership numbers have been sorrowful, even when compared to the NWSL. And yet, the men’s soccer tournament continues to rake in millions of dollars more than the women’s league. A lot of it was because of the titular deal between Apple and the MLS. With that gone, soccer action could be more readily available. However, some fans don’t think things will change much. “Can’t think why…making people pay to watch MLS was a criminal decision. At least now they’ll get a few hundred people watching the games,” one fan’s sarcasm could hardly be overlooked. “That should make 500 or so people happy,” sneered another.

However, some fans believe this is the way to bring more exposure to the sport. “This is smart longterm thinking,” said one fan, while another affirmed the perspective, saying, “This will pull in more fans.” But not everyone is on board. “Another way to alienate their loyal fans .. That are already paying it as part of their STM,” one fan took a step further and claimed that the move might even push some fans away from the MLS.

Where do you stand on the debate? Tell us in a comment!