Soccer in the US Is Split Across Too Many Platforms
If you've tried to watch soccer in the US recently, you already know the problem. The rights are scattered across so many networks and streaming services that following even one league can require three subscriptions. MLS is on Apple TV. Liga MX is on ViX and TUDN. The Premier League is on Peacock. La Liga is on ESPN+. The Champions League is on Paramount+. It's a mess.
But here's the counterintuitive part: Consumer Reports says soccer is now one of the easiest sports for cord-cutters to follow, because almost everything is on streaming — no cable required, just pick your leagues. The fragmentation is real, but so is the access. Here's where everything lives, what it costs, and what's actually worth your money.
MLS: Apple TV or Nothing
MLS went all-in on Apple in 2023. Every single MLS game — all 400-plus of them — streams on MLS Season Pass, which lives inside the Apple TV app. There's no local blackout. There's no cable alternative. If you want to watch a specific team, you need this.
MLS Season Pass costs $14.99 a month during the season. Apple TV+ subscribers get a discount, bringing it to $12.99 a month. That's the only way in. The upside: every game is available in English and Spanish, with no regional restrictions. The downside: if you already pay for cable, you're paying again for a league that used to be free on local networks.
A handful of MLS games each season also air on Fox or FS1, available on cable or any live TV streaming service that carries Fox. But the vast majority are Apple-only.
Liga MX: ViX, TUDN, Univision, and UniMas
Liga MX is the most-watched soccer league in the US among Spanish-speaking audiences, and the rights are split across TUDN, Univision, UniMas, and ViX.
ViX is the Televisa-backed streaming service, and it has a free tier that carries some Liga MX matches — that's the cheapest way in. The premium tier (around $7 a month) carries the bulk of the matches, including many Club America, Chivas, and Cruz Azul games. The biggest games — the Clasico Nacional, playoffs, Friday night showcases — also air on TUDN, Univision, or UniMas on cable.
If you want free soccer, ViX's free tier, Tubi, and EstrellaTV all carry some live matches. It won't get you every game, but it's a zero-dollar starting point.
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For full Liga MX coverage on cable, fuboTV is the best pick — it carries TUDN, Univision, UniMas, and more sports channels in the base package. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV also carry Univision in most markets.
The Premier League, La Liga, and European Leagues
If you're also following European soccer, the costs add up. The Premier League is on Peacock (about $8 a month) with some games on NBC and USA Network. La Liga and the Bundesliga are on ESPN+ ($11 a month). The Champions League, Europa League, and Serie A are on Paramount+ ($8 a month). Ligue 1 is on beIN Sports, included with fuboTV.
The Realistic Budget for a Soccer Fan
If you want MLS, Liga MX, and the Premier League — the three leagues most US fans follow — here's the monthly cost: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV ($14.99, or $12.99 with Apple TV+), ViX for Liga MX ($7, or free for some games), and Peacock for the Premier League ($8). That's about $30 a month for three leagues.
Xfinity offers a sports bundle that includes 1,500-plus soccer matches across these leagues for around $95 a month — for people who want cable plus everything in one bill. fuboTV at about $85 a month gives you almost everything except MLS Season Pass, so if you're a general sports fan who also watches football and basketball, fuboTV plus Apple TV is probably the cleanest full setup.
Start With One League
Soccer fandom in the US doesn't require you to follow everything. Pick a team in MLS, pick a team in Liga MX, and watch those games. The rest is optional. The sport rewards consistency — watch one team for a season and you'll understand why people care.
