DOZENS OF GAMES TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY ON FOX, FS1, ESPN, ESPN2 AND UNIVISION
NEW YORK – Major League Soccer announced its full 2019 season schedule on Monday afternoon for all 24 franchises. Like 2018, the schedule will remain at 34 games for each team, however the regular season will end earlier this year in advance of a revamped Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format in 2019. The playoffs will begin on October 19 with the MLS Cup set for November 10.
The season will kick off the weekend of March 2-3 and will feature five national TV broadcasts, the most for an opening weekend in MLS history. Two games to watch on opening weekend include FC Cincinnati’s MLS debut against Seattle Sounders FC on March 2 and defending MLS Cup champions Atlanta United FC at DC United on March 3.
In all, 34 MLS games will be broadcast nationally in primetime on Fox Sports 1, ESPN or ESPN2, the most in league history. For the final four weeks of the regular season, when teams are jockeying for position in the standings, MLS is presenting Flexible Scheduling for games on ESPN and FS1.
Other highlights to the 2019 MLS schedule include Heineken Rivalry Week from August 21-25 which will feature some of the best rivalries in MLS. Orlando City-Atlanta United FC and Portland Timbers-Seattle Sounders will play in an ESPN doubleheader on August 23. Then the following day, the New York Derby will take place on ESPN2 between New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. Finally on August 25, new interstate rivals FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC will kick off a doubleheader on FS1 followed by LAFC and LA Galaxy.
The 2019 schedule will culminate with MLS Decision Day on presented by AT&T on Oct. 6 where all MLS teams will compete in matches beginning at 3 p.m. CT. ESPN will select one feature match to broadcast, and will provide around-the-league coverage throughout the Day.
