All MLS Matches Free This Weekend on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
This weekend, fans in more than 100 countries around the world can catch all 14 live matches across the league for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Soccer in the Southeast will be at the forefront as four of the five clubs in the region will go head-to-head in two of the best atmospheres in MLS.
Nashville SC hosts Charlotte FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET) at GEODIS Park, one of the most vibrant backgrounds for MLS action as the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States, looking to continue their unbeaten start to 2024. Last year’s battle between the two clubs in Nashville was played in front of a crowd of 27,902 fans in September 2023.
In the Peach State, a rivalry match between Atlanta United and Orlando City SC will round out the weekend of action on Sunday (7 p.m. ET). This match up has produced two of the top-10 most attended games in MLS history with a crowd of 71,932 in June 2018 (seventh-highest attendance) and 70,425 in September 2017 (10th-highest attendance).
There will also be unbeaten match ups across both conferences on Saturday as the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions Columbus Crew (2-0-1) take on the New York Red Bulls (2-0-1) at Lower.com Field (7:30 p.m. ET) and St. Louis CITY SC (1-0-2) travels to face the LA Galaxy (1-0-2), one of only three Western Conference teams they did not beat in their inaugural season in 2023, on Sunday (10:30 p.m. ET).
There are approximately 7.7 billion people in the world and during Ramadan, approximately 24 percent of them – nearly two billion Muslims – observe the holy month with fasting during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset), extended prayers, increased charity, and introspection.
In 2023, MLS instituted a policy that allows for a pause in play during games played during Ramadan for observing players and match officials to break their daily fasts, as needed.
Several players across MLS will benefit from the pause in play as they observe the month of fasting as followers of the faith or in solidarity with their teammates and friends. On and off the field, club nutritionists and dietitians work with players and technical staff, as fasting prohibits food and drink, including water.
The athleticism and balance it takes to compete in MLS during trainings and games, combined with fasting in observance of Ramadan, places these athletes in a league of their own. Some of the MLS stars observing the month of Ramadan include 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, 2023 MLS Cup presented by Audi winner Steven Moreira, and recent U.S. Men’s National Team call-up Esmir Bajraktarevic.
While stars from leagues around the globe continue to make Major League Soccer their league of choice, many of the league’s top performers – some of whom arrived in MLS with great fanfare – have recently made long-term commitments to their clubs and will continue to shine in the league for years to come.
Since September 2023, several of the league’s brightest stars have signed long-term contract extensions, including each of the last three Landon Donovan MLS MVPs, three of the league’s 2023 Best XI presented by Continental Tire honorees, and the reigning MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi winner. Three of these players – Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), and Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) – signed their new deals within the last week.
Lucho Acosta (FC Cincinnati): The 2023 MLS MVP, Acosta has found a home in Cincinnati while helping the club become one of the best in the Eastern Conference. In September 2023, the three-time Best XI selection signed a new deal through the 2026 season with an option for 2027.
“This club is very special, it’s my family. Every time I go out on the field, I give my life for this city, for these fans, for these colors, for this club. That is what makes it so special for me, because they are my family.” – Acosta
Dénis Bouanga (LAFC): The reigning Golden Boot winner has done nothing but score for LAFC since arriving to the club in the summer of 2022. Bouanga scored 38 goals across all competitions last year and will spearhead the Western Conference-power’s attack through the 2027 season with an option for 2028.
“Denis has made an incredible impact on LAFC and our league over the last two seasons and has been critical to our success. We are excited to see one of the best players in the league make this long-term commitment to LAFC and continue our commitment to winning championships in Los Angeles.” – LAFC general manager John Thorrington
Carles Gil (New England Revolution): The 2021 MLS MVP, few players have made as strong of an impact over the last five seasons as Gil, who has an MLS-best 63 assists across 136 regular-season matches since the start of 2019. Gil has earned two Best XI accolades and three All-Star nods during his MLS tenure and his new extension will keep him with the Revolution through the 2026 season with an option for 2027.
- New York City FC published a rendering of “The Cube,” an immersive, seven-story front door to their new stadium slated to open in 2027. Instagram
- New England Revolution's João Afonso ‘JAFONSO’ wins eMLS Cupagainst Inter Miami’s K1john in Bracket Final Showdown. Both players earned automatic bids to EA SPORTS FC™ Pro World Championship. Twitter
- In celebration of Women’s History Month, the women of LAFC discuss their experience and advice for working in the sports industry. Apple TV
With many alumni already making an impact in MLS, more young players will have their opportunity to ascend the pathway when the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season kicks off on Friday, March 15, with Austin FC II launching its MLS NEXT Pro Cup title defense against Tacoma Defiance (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
Premiering this season will be two independent teams, Chattanooga FC and Carolina Core FC. Chattanooga FC, with a 15-year history in the Tennessee Valley, will host its first match in MLS NEXT Pro against Huntsville City FC (Nashville SC) on Saturday, March 16 (3 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
Carolina Core is led by MLS Great and American soccer legend, chief sporting officer Eddie Pope, as well as fellow MLS Great, head coach Roy Lassiter. CCFC will play its first-ever match on Sunday, March 17, at in-state rival Crown Legacy FC (Charlotte FC) (5 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
Since the launch of MLS NEXT Pro in March 2022, 90 players have signed MLS first team deals after competing in the league, with many more to come once the MLS NEXT Pro season gets underway this weekend.
CF Montréal – the only MLS team yet to play a home game in 2024 – is tied atop the Supporters’ Shield standings through their first three games, and spearheading the bright start has been 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year and first-year MLS head coach Laurent Courtois.
Courtois had immediate success with Columbus Crew 2, leading the side to consecutive MLS NEXT Pro Cup title games and winning the trophy in 2022. Not only did Courtois win on the field, but he developed some of the Crew’s key players that helped them win MLS Cup last year, including U.S. Men’s National Team duo Patrick Schulte and Sean Zawadzki. Now, the Frenchman is doing the same with Montréal as young players Fernando Álvarez, Mathieu Choinière, and Jonathan Sirois have all taken steps forward in 2024.
A former MLS player himself with the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA, Courtois’ competitiveness comes from his playing background, but also from the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for which he carries a self-described obsession. A blue belt, Courtois picked up the sport in 2017 and has noted that it helps him stay disciplined while also maintaining humility. These two philosophies also apply to his coaching methodology, and it is already proving successful in Courtois’ opening three matches with Montréal.
To assist in your coverage of the 2024 MLS season, the MLS Communications staff has provided the following media resources, all of which are available on MLSsoccer.com/Media-Resources.
Club Communications Contacts & Media Resource Websites | Link
