ESPN Networks to Televise 31 Matches during 2019 Major League Soccer Regular Season

ESPN networks will televise 31 matches during the 2019 Major League Soccer regular season.

Twenty-five matches will air on ESPN and six will air on ESPN2. ESPN Deportes will offer Spanish-language coverage of all 31 matches. All matches will be streamed live on the ESPN App. In addition, ESPN+, the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN, returns as the exclusive home of MLS out-of-market games.

ESPN’s schedule kicks off Sunday, March 3, with a doubleheader featuring the 2018 MLS Cup champion Atlanta United. Led by the reigning MVP Josef Martinez, Atlanta plays former England National Team star Wayne Rooney and DC United (6 p.m.), followed by Los Angeles FC and Mexican National Team forward Carlos Vela vs. Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m.

ESPN, Major League Soccer’s longest-tenured national media partner, is entering its 24^th straight season of televising MLS matches. The network has carried live matches since MLS debuted in 1996. In 2019, ESPN coverage will feature new play-by-play voice Jon Champion and analyst Taylor Twellman as the lead MLS commentator team.

Highlights MLS on ESPN in 2019:

• All 31 scheduled games involve at least one 2018 MLS Cup Playoff team or the expansion FC Cincinnati, MLS’s newest club;
• Atlanta United FC, the 2018 MLS Cup champion, leads the league with eight regular-season appearances on ESPN networks, followed by Portland Timbers and Los Angeles FC with six;
• The expansion Cincinnati FC franchise will make four appearances on ESPN this season. Their ESPN debut is Sunday, March 10 against MLS Cup champion Atlanta (5 p.m.).
• MLS Heineken Rivalry Week on ESPN will feature Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 9:30 p.m., and a doubleheader on Friday, Aug. 23: Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United FC (8 p.m.) and Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders’ Cascadia Cup match (10 p.m.) MLS Rivalry Week on ESPN networks will conclude Saturday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPN Deportes with the Hudson River Derby – New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls;
• The Los Angeles clubs meet for the El Tráfico derby on ESPN: One of two derby matches between five-time MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC – a second-year MLS franchise – will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes on Friday, July 19;
• Saturday, April 13, Minnesota United FC hosts New York City FC at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 – the opening match at Minnesota’s state-of-the-art Allianz Field in St. Paul;
• Decision Day – Sunday, Oct. 6: ESPN will televise one match with MLS Cup Playoff implication at 4 p.m. and provide updates and coverage of other matches in that window.

2019 MLS Cup:

In addition to the 31 regular-season match windows and extensive coverage of 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, ESPN will present the 2019 MLS Cup – Major League Soccer’s season-ending championship match – on Sunday, Nov. 10. Details will be announced during the season.

ESPN’s 2019 MLS Schedule

(Schedule Subject to Change)

* All matches will be streamed live on the ESPN App

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