World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

[Jimjamesak]

I watched. It was actually 10v10 when the US scored, and yes, the pitch was laughably miserable. El Salvador created almost no chances; on their goal, our backup keeper played the pass instead of the shot and left the near post wide open for the direct strike. I’m pretty sure he ended the match with zero saves.

I don’t know what Horvath was doing on that shot but it certainly was bad.

The Arriola red card was weird, it was certainly justifiable but it was also one that some places would want a yellow.

On another note, I’m curious to what all of you think about the MLS/Apple deal? A lot of strong feelings on other forums.

[Spartanforlife4]

It sounds exactly like the type of deal that MLB fans have been clamoring for, but will not get for the foreseeable future. MLB has been going the opposite way of this deal, with smaller national contracts and bigger regional contracts. This while people are dropping cable or in particular, regional networks are getting in spats with cable companies and dropping service, leaving fans with access to essentially zero games for their in-market team.

Have they come out with a price point for this? It’s a dream service feature-wise (though I imagine some will miss their hometown announcing crew), but I know the issue if MLB ever went this route would be recouping local tv fees, making the price astronomical. It’s a risky move, but it sounds like MLS is doing this at a time when it won’t be a killer to clubs to drop existing local contracts and have to make up that tv money with an insane stream price. The downsides I see are 1) taking away the passive local audience you would be able to bring in and turn into a fanatic and 2) making the price point too high where the fanatics decide they’re more soccer fans than MLS fans and it’s better to stick with Peacock, CBSAA, and/or ESPN+ and just watch international leagues to get their football fix.

I’ll say good on them for trying it. It’s a pioneering move to see a consolidation in rights. To compare it to MLB again, just this season they went exclusive with Apple and Peacock for select games, so now I think to watch every game of your team you’d need the local RSN, ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS and MLBN through cable and then Apple and Peacock through streaming. Plus Youtube, but that’s free assuming you have fast enough internet, and if you don’t you aren’t getting Apple or Peacock anyway. Even if you’re out of market for MLBTV, you still get blacked out for national games, so MLS is even covering for that scenario.

[Jimjamesak]

It sounds exactly like the type of deal that MLB fans have been clamoring for, but will not get for the foreseeable future. MLB has been going the opposite way of this deal, with smaller national contracts and bigger regional contracts. This while people are dropping cable or in particular, regional networks are getting in spats with cable companies and dropping service, leaving fans with access to essentially zero games for their in-market team.

Have they come out with a price point for this? It’s a dream service feature-wise (though I imagine some will miss their hometown announcing crew), but I know the issue if MLB ever went this route would be recouping local tv fees, making the price astronomical. It’s a risky move, but it sounds like MLS is doing this at a time when it won’t be a killer to clubs to drop existing local contracts and have to make up that tv money with an insane stream price. The downsides I see are 1) taking away the passive local audience you would be able to bring in and turn into a fanatic and 2) making the price point too high where the fanatics decide they’re more soccer fans than MLS fans and it’s better to stick with Peacock, CBSAA, and/or ESPN+ and just watch international leagues to get their football fix.

I’ll say good on them for trying it. It’s a pioneering move to see a consolidation in rights. To compare it to MLB again, just this season they went exclusive with Apple and Peacock for select games, so now I think to watch every game of your team you’d need the local RSN, ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS and MLBN through cable and then Apple and Peacock through streaming. Plus Youtube, but that’s free assuming you have fast enough internet, and if you don’t you aren’t getting Apple or Peacock anyway. Even if you’re out of market for MLBTV, you still get blacked out for national games, so MLS is even covering for that scenario.

There hasn't been a price point set from the information that's out and we likely won't have any more info for a few months. I can't imagine it'll be super expensive (especially if they're giving it to season ticket holders for free), I know back when MLS had the non-national games streaming on their website it wasn't very expensive (~$50 for the season).

I know some fanbases were upset about losing local coverage, at least with teams like Seattle were the coverage was good and actually available, but considering there's been 20+ years of local coverage and it hasn't done **** all for the league (the Red Bulls have been on MSG since the beginning in 1996 and their attendance is terrible) I'm not upset to be losing it.

I hope this deal succeeds and it becomes the model going forward so other leagues will follow (looks at NHL).

[Jimjamesak]

Also, I talked about this with some of my baseball fan friends and their immediate thought was "wish MLB could do that".

[Russell Jaslow]

I hope this deal succeeds and it becomes the model going forward so other leagues will follow (looks at NHL).

Doesn't the NHL have ESPN+? Doesn't that essentially cover what you are looking for?

[RaceBoarder]

MLS will likely be a testing ground for this.

With more and more people choosing to forgo "Classic" TV (ie cable) sports will need to adapt, as live sports were basically the last reason to keep a traditional cable package for many.

Personally, its been the one thing I've struggled with since cutting the cable bill when I moved to my new apartment in May 2021.

If MLS can show that "local" revenue isn't effected by the streaming package, I think this is something the bigger leagues will look into.

[Jimjamesak]

Doesn't the NHL have ESPN+? Doesn't that essentially cover what you are looking for?

Still has blackouts, I’m blacked out of Seattle games even in Alaska.

[unofan]

Doesn't the NHL have ESPN+? Doesn't that essentially cover what you are looking for?

Not if you live in a state where 3-6 teams claim you as their home market and subject you to blackouts, regardless of whether their games are actually available or not...

If the schedule breaks right, on a given night in April the following will all be blacked out over the whole state of Iowa unless you can pick up the right regional network somewhere:
Cardinals
Cubs
Brewers
White Sox
Twins
Royals
Blues
Wild
Blackhawks
Bucks
Bulls
Timberwolves

[JF_Gophers]

I don't care too much other than getting rid of blackouts. They aren't necessary anymore.

[Jimjamesak]

I don't care too much other than getting rid of blackouts. They aren't necessary anymore.

Being able to watch the national TV games without having to pay for cable or separate subscription (or having to use an antenna) is nice too.

[Kepler]

Being able to watch the national TV games without having to pay for cable or separate subscription (or having to use an antenna) is nice too.

We need to be able to watch the local broadcast of national games. National broadcasters are garbage.

This is ESPECIALLY true in the post-season. Nobody wants your trash, ESPN and Fox.

Mets fans watch the best booth in sports for 162 games less a few stolen by nationals, and then we have to sync up our radio broadcast to be able to see video of the post-season.

Your joke about only once per decade here.

[Jimjamesak]

We need to be able to watch the local broadcast of national games. National broadcasters are garbage.

This is ESPECIALLY true in the post-season. Nobody wants your trash, ESPN and Fox.

Mets fans watch the best booth in sports for 162 games less a few stolen by nationals, and then we have to sync up our radio broadcast to be able to see video of the post-season.

Your joke about only once per decade here.

For this deal Apple has already said there’ll be separate, selectable audio feeds for teams’ radio broadcast included in the streams.

[Russell Jaslow]

Still has blackouts, I’m blacked out of Seattle games even in Alaska.

True. I just don't see blackouts going away anytime soon with the more established sports, especially baseball where regional contracts are so huge.

[Russell Jaslow]

Not if you live in a state where 3-6 teams claim you as their home market and subject you to blackouts, regardless of whether their games are actually available or not...

If the schedule breaks right, on a given night in April the following will all be blacked out over the whole state of Iowa unless you can pick up the right regional network somewhere:
Cardinals
Cubs
Brewers
White Sox
Twins
Royals
Blues
Wild
Blackhawks
Bucks
Bulls
Timberwolves

Living in Rochester makes it kind of weird.

Because we are considered Buffalo's territory, the Rangers, Islanders, and I assume Devils are blacked out. But since Buffalo does not have a baseball team, we can see the Yankees and Mets.

[joecct]

Per The Athletic

JUST IN — The 2026 men’s World Cup host cities:

⚽ West Coast:
Vancouver
Seattle
San Francisco/Bay Area
Los Angeles
Guadalajara

⚽ Central:
Kansas City
Dallas
Houston
Atlanta
Monterrey
Mexico City

⚽ East Coast:
Toronto
Boston
Philadelphia
Miami
New York/New Jersey
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