Eurosport India, a subsidiary of the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned international sports broadcaster, has secured exclusive rights to broadcast a selection of games from North America's Major League Soccer (MLS). This move is part of MLS' international growth strategy and aims to increase the league's global audience.
Sunday Night Soccer is a new prime-time initiative launched by MLS for the 2025 campaign. The program showcases the marquee match of each week and has quickly become a flagship product for MLS. It is designed to wrap up each weekend’s action with high-profile matchups featuring high-stake clashes.
Some notable matches include 'El Tráfico' (LA Galaxy vs LAFC), the Hudson River Derby (New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC), and the Cascadia Cup (matches between Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps in the Pacific Northwest division). The marquee Sunday night matches are available on Apple TV in the US and will now be featured on traditional linear TV channels in multiple countries around the world through new distribution agreements.
Expanding reach through international partnerships
In addition to Eurosport India, MLS has also struck deals with several international broadcasters such as SBS in Australia, Dubai TV in Middle East, TV3 Spain, Sportdigital Germany, SkyK South Korea, Charlton Israel, Go Malta and SPOTV Southeast Asia.
However domestically within North America itself - Fox and TSN Canada have non-exclusive deals with MLS but neither contract includes Sunday Night Soccer which is available on Apple TV+ without requiring a Season Pass subscription.
This expansion aims at growing its global audience especially leading up to 2026 World Cup which will be co-hosted by US,Mexico,and Canada.
Boosting appeal through global stars recruitment
Complementing this international push is MLS' recent recruitment of global stars, including Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Marco Reus. These signings have significantly boosted the league’s appeal and media attention.
More international partnerships are expected later this year as MLS aims to increase the reach of its Sunday Night Soccer offering globally. This move is set to make MLS more accessible to sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts worldwide.
Eurosport India's acquisition of exclusive rights to broadcast MLS games marks a significant step in expanding the reach of Major League Soccer. With high-stake matches featuring global soccer stars and strategic international partnerships in place, MLS is poised for substantial growth on a global scale.
