Namaste, friends, Darius Patel here from The Church Of Apple. Please take a seat, imagine a hot cup of chai in hand, and let us talk about a very interesting Apple move that is being quietly big, only.
Apple has confirmed that the 31st Major League Soccer season is beginning on Saturday, February 21, and the biggest surprise is this, MLS matches will be available to Apple TV subscribers with no additional fees and no blackouts. Earlier, there used to be a separate MLS Season Pass cost, but for 2026, Apple has removed that extra layer. This is being a great example of Apple simplifying subscriptions, no?
Now, what exactly is coming for viewers? Apple is saying the coverage will include a weekly “Walmart Saturday Showdown”, which will highlight a featured match with enhanced production. They are even bringing “Shot on iPhone” style moments into the broadcast with dynamic angles, which is very Apple-like, actually. It is not just about the match, it is about the experience, itself.
For opening weekend, Apple says every one of the 30 MLS teams will play across February 21 and 22. That means it is a proper festival-style kickoff, and if you are already paying for Apple TV, you can just tune in. No extra payment tension, what to do, very nice only.
Now, from an Indian perspective, why should we care about MLS sitting in the US? Simple, friends, this is Apple showing a clear playbook. One subscription, more value, more reasons to stay inside the Apple ecosystem. In India, where subscription fatigue is real and everyone is comparing monthly spends, bundling premium sports into an existing plan is a strong move. If Apple keeps testing such models, it can influence how they negotiate sports rights and bundles in other regions too, over time.
Also, Apple is linking the whole sports vibe across apps, which is quite smart. There will be MLS updates via the Apple Sports app for scores and Live Activities, and Apple is also pushing related content through Apple Music, Maps, Podcasts, and News. This is classic Apple services strategy, take one anchor event and then make the entire ecosystem feel more alive.
My takeaway over chai is this, Apple is not only selling devices, it is selling reasons to keep paying monthly, and it is making that fee feel justified. For users, it is simply superb when the same subscription starts giving more without asking for extra money again and again.
If you are already on Apple TV, do tell me, are you planning to watch a few matches this weekend, or you are waiting for Apple to do something similar with cricket, no?