How to Watch the MLS Playoffs 2022

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.

Jump to:

• MLS Playoffs channels
• MLS Playoffs schedule
• Watch the MLS Playoffs 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.

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.

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

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

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.