During the morning of this Thursday, May 14, the Major League Soccer (MLS)soccer league of Canada and the United States, announced four series of original content and an expanded distribution network, coinciding with the 2026 World Cupwhich will be held from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19 in Mexico, Canada and the USA.
According to Major League Soccer, the four original content series will cover 40 stories and will generate more than 400 pieces of content distributed by Amazon, Apple TV, FOX and Tubi. Additionally, other partners will be announced in late May, as MLS expects more of 40 players represent their countries in the World Cup.
“The World Cup represents a great opportunity for MLS to share the stories that make us the league of greater growth in the world,” added the MLS Executive Vice President of Media, Seth Baconwho worked directly with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to reach an agreement.
“We not only create content, but we also give visibility to the players, their communities and the moving trajectories that connect fans with this sport. Our followers will be closer than ever to the stories behind the league and the people who shape its future,” said Seth Bacon.
Apple’s millionaire bet
According to what was stated by Eddy Cueexecutive Cuban-American of Apple that helped close a million-dollar deal with the MLS, “live sport, especially soccer, is experiencing its great moment because it manages to combine what the platforms are most looking for: emotioncelebrities, datacommunity and drama without script.”
For Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services and Health, there is no better place to experience this intersection than Miamiwhere this bet was born: “It is the most global city in the United States. The level of energy in Florida “It feels as soon as you arrive,” added the executive, who reports directly to Tim cookCEO of Apple.
Therefore, under the direction of Eddy Cue, AppleTV became the house exclusive of the MLS in the territory of the United States for five years, starting in 2026, with a contract estimated at US$140 million annually, above the US$90 million annually that he paid ESPNthe largest sports television network in the world.
“We’re taking advantage of everything we have. If you go to Apple News, we’re going to let you in live to the game when it is happening, even from the referee’s point of view. Soccer has it all. It is a drama without a script. You don’t know who’s going to win. It is extremely exciting to see,” said the executive, who resides in Los Angeles.
Celebrities in MLS
“Now you have footballers who are enormous stars. Even their partners are famous. You have technical directors who are also great figures because they are willing to say anything. “They talk about each other, and that is rarely seen in sport,” he said, referring to the ecosystem fed by the celebrities around the championship.
The original series:
- Cup Dreams: It premieres next Friday, May 15 exclusively on Prime Video, with additional distribution after the Amazon exclusivity period.
- Reflections of the Cup: 11-episode docuseries in which the players reflect on their trajectories. Its distribution includes Apple TV, Tubi and FOX.
- National Anthems: Nine-episode series exploring the identity and culture of national teams from the perspective of MLS players and their fans. Available on Apple TV.
- Breakaway: Eight-episode series that shows behind the scenes and follows the players’ preparation for the tournament. Available on Tubi and FOX.