It’s survival of the fittest as 14 Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs fight for a place in the 2022 MLS Cup Final. Playoff games will appear on ESPN, FOX Sports, and Univision networks throughout October, with the grand finale airing on FOX in November.
The MLS Playoffs are happening earlier this year to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup. But the schedule change won’t squander the excitement for the US and Canada’s top soccer clubs.
Keep reading to see what specific channels you’ll need to watch the playoffs and how you can tune in for free.
What channels are the MLS Playoffs on?
The 2022 MLS Playoffs will air nationally across four channels with English-language audio. The first two Round One matches will also air in the local markets of the participating teams and stream live across MLS digital platforms.
- ABC
- ESPN
- FOX
- Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
- MLSsoccer.com/MLS app
TUDN, UniMás, and Univision will broadcast select playoff matches en Español—including the MLS Cup Final. All playoff games on ABC and ESPN will also air on ESPN Deportes with Spanish-language commentary. Likewise, Fox Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage for all FOX and FS1 games.
MLS Playoffs schedule
The 2022 MLS regular season ends on Sunday, October 9, with another thrilling Decision Day. From there, playoff action will take place across three weeks—ending with the 2022 MLS Cup Final on Saturday, November 5.
Round | Start date | English channels | Spanish channels |
---|---|---|---|
First Round | October 15, 2022 | ABC, ESPN, FS1, MLSsoccer.com, MLS app | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, TUDN, UniMás, Univision |
Conference Semifinals | October 20, 2022 | ABC, ESPN, FOX, FS1 | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes |
Conference Finals | October 30, 2022 | ABC, FS1 | ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes |
MLS Cup Final | November 5, 2022 | FOX | UniMás, TUDN |
Best TV plans for watching the MLS Playoffs
Most TV plans offer every English-language channel required for watching the MLS Playoffs. But we prefer Hulu + Live TV (starting at $69.99 a month) because it comes with ESPN+ at no extra cost.
While ESPN+ won’t have live MLS playoff games, it does have exclusive studio shows and on-demand replays in its MLS Live on ESPN+ hub. You also get live access to many other soccer leagues worldwide—making Hulu + Live TV with ESPN+ our favorite service for watching the FIFA World Cup. And that’s important because the World Cup kicks off two weeks after the MLS Cup Final.
For Spanish-language coverage, we recommend fuboTV’s Latino plan ($32.99 a month) because it comes with ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, TUDN, UniMás, and Univision. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t include Telemundo and Universo for World Cup coverage en Español. But you can always cancel after the MLS Cup Final and switch to Peacock Premium (starting at $4.99 a month), our pick for watching Spanish-language World Cup coverage.
Which TV providers offer MLS playoff channels?
If you prefer to browse more TV providers for playoff coverage, we outlined some of the most popular ones in the table below.
Provider | ABC | ESPN | FOX | FS1 | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cox | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Cox review |
DIRECTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
DIRECTV STREAM | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
DISH | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
fuboTV | ✔* | ✔ | ✔* | ✔ |
View plans Read fuboTV review |
Hulu + Live TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
Optimum | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
Philo | — | — | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
Sling TV | — | ✔ | ✔* | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
Spectrum | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
Xfinity | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Xfinity review |
YouTube TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Available only in select markets.
How to watch the MLS Playoffs for free
CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $48.94 (as of 9/27/22 10:20 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
There’s no easy way to watch the MLS Playoffs for free. You could always try signing up for free trials offered by various live TV streaming services. But not every service has a free trial, and you risk paying for something you don’t want in the long run.
Luckily, some playoff games air on ABC and FOX. These channels are free to access if you live near a local network affiliate. You only need an over-the-air (OTA) antenna that’s strong enough to pick up the channel’s signal. Then, you’ll get every game each channel shows—including the MLS Cup Final—without paying for a TV service.
Of course, the antenna itself isn’t free. But it’s a one-time purchase that will last you for several years and provide you with live sports year-round—including MLB, NFL, and Premier League games.
We recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 ($48.94 on Amazon*) because its 60-mile range and included amplifier are ideal for clear channel reception. But you’ll first want to enter your zip code on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Reception Map Tool to confirm ABC and FOX affiliates are within range of your home.
If you require an antenna with a wider range, you can visit our Best Antennas for Cord-Cutters page for more antenna recommendations.
Final take
Two sets of channels exist for watching the MLS Playoffs based on your language preference. ABC, ESPN, FOX, and FS1 will have almost every game for English-language viewers (two games are on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS app). But Spanish-language viewers will need ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, TUDN, UniMás, and Univision.
Hulu + Live TV is the ideal provider for English-language coverage. The live TV streaming service starts at $69.99 a month and carries every national playoff channel, with ESPN+ included for bonus soccer coverage. You’ll even get complete access to the 2022 FIFA World Cup should you stick around beyond the MLS Cup Final.
If watching fútbol en Español is your jam, fuboTV’s Latino plan is the cheapest option out there. At $32.99 a month, you’ll get all five Spanish-language playoff channels. But you won’t get every live World Cup game when that tournament kicks off on November 20.
How to watch the MLS Playoffs FAQ
What channel is the MLS Cup Playoffs on?
The MLS Playoffs air on ESPN, FOX Sports, and Univision networks in the US, with some games also streaming live on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS app. In Canada, MLS playoff games air on TSN and TVA Sports.
Where can I stream the MLS Playoffs?
You can stream the MLS Playoffs on any live TV streaming service that offers ABC, ESPN, FOX, FS1, and Univision. MLSsoccer.com and the MLS app also provide streaming access to select MLS games.
Does ESPN+ have the MLS Playoffs?
No, ESPN+ doesn’t have live MLS playoff games. But you can watch playoff games on demand after the live broadcast ends through the streaming service’s MLS Live on ESPN+ hub.
Does Apple TV have the MLS Playoffs?
No, neither Apple TV+ nor the Apple TV app has MLS playoff games in 2022. But starting with the 2023 MLS season, you can watch all MLS matches on a new MLS streaming service launching exclusively within the Apple TV app.
Methodology
Our sports experts spent over 10 hours examining the best ways to watch the MLS Playoffs by comparing the prices and channel offerings of the most popular TV services. We selected our English- and Spanish-language viewing recommendations based on convenience—focusing on channel availability, pricing, and ease of signing up.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Amazon.com price as of 9/27/22 10:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.