How to Watch MLS Soccer: Your Ultimate Guide for 2025

If you’re a soccer fan in the U.S. or Canada, Major League Soccer (MLS) is a must-watch, and 2025 promises to be another exciting season full of goals, action, and incredible matches. Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or just starting to get into the game, learning how to watch MLS soccer can make all the difference. Thanks to IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), fans can easily access MLS games from any device. This guide will cover how to watch MLS on various devices using IPTV services, and will also answer common questions like “When does the MLS soccer season start?” “How long are MLS soccer games?” “How does MLS soccer playoffs work?” and “How many games are in an MLS season?”

When Does the MLS Soccer Season Start?

The MLS soccer season generally starts in late February or early March, typically coinciding with the beginning of the spring sports season in North America. For the 2025 season, you can expect the action to kick off in early March with the much-anticipated MLS Season Opener. This annual event marks the start of the competition, as teams vie for the coveted MLS Cup trophy.

The regular season runs through the fall, typically ending in late October. During this period, each of the 29 teams (currently in the league for 2025) plays a series of home and away matches. The start of the season is always an exciting time for fans, as new players and new rivalries bring fresh excitement to the league.

How Long Are MLS Soccer Games?

MLS soccer games, like most professional soccer matches, last 90 minutes. These 90 minutes are split into two 45-minute halves, with a 15-minute halftime break in between. However, the total duration of the game can extend beyond the 90 minutes due to added stoppage time. Stoppage time is added by the referee to compensate for any delays that occurred during the match, such as player injuries, substitutions, or time wasted during goal celebrations.

At the end of the regular time (90 minutes plus stoppage time), if the match ends in a draw, there are no additional minutes in the regular season. However, during the playoffs or in tournament-style games, if the score is tied after 90 minutes, the game moves into extra time, which consists of two 15-minute halves. If the score is still tied after extra time, penalty kicks determine the winner.

How Does MLS Soccer Playoffs Work?

The MLS playoffs are the climax of the regular season, and they follow a thrilling knockout format. Here’s how the playoffs work:

1. Qualification

The top seven teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) make it to the playoffs. These teams are seeded based on their performance in the regular season, with the top-seeded team from each conference earning a first-round bye. The remaining teams face off in a single-elimination format, which means one loss, and they’re out.

2. Playoff Structure

First Round: The 2nd to 7th seeds from each conference compete in single-elimination matches. The higher-seeded teams get home-field advantage.
Conference Semifinals and Finals: The winners from the first round advance to the semifinals and finals in their respective conferences. These are typically two-legged series (home and away).
MLS Cup Final: The two conference champions face off in a one-match final to decide the MLS Cup winner.

3. Extra Time and Penalty Kicks

If the match is tied at the end of regulation time during the playoffs, extra time (two 15-minute halves) is played. If the score remains tied after extra time, penalty kicks are used to determine the winner.

The excitement of the MLS playoffs is unparalleled, and watching the games unfold is a thrilling experience. The intensity of knockout soccer combined with the drama of penalty shootouts makes it an edge-of-your-seat experience.

How Many Games Are in an MLS Season?

For the 2025 season, each MLS team will play 34 regular-season games. This includes 17 home games and 17 away games, allowing teams to face each other both at home and on the road. The total number of games in the regular season for the league as a whole is 1,066 (29 teams x 34 games).

The league also features other tournaments like the U.S. Open Cup and the Leagues Cup, but these competitions are separate from the regular MLS season. These events provide even more soccer action throughout the year, but they do not directly impact the MLS Cup race.

How to Watch MLS with IPTV on Popular IPTV Apps

Gone are the days of traditional cable TV. IPTV services have revolutionized the way fans can watch sports, including MLS games. IPTV allows you to stream live sports over the internet, which means you can catch every MLS game from the comfort of your home or on the go. Below, we’ll go over the best IPTV apps to use on Apple TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, and Android TV for watching MLS.

1. Hot Player

Hot Player is one of the best IPTV apps for sports streaming. With its user-friendly interface, you can easily navigate and find your favorite MLS games. Hot Player supports streaming on multiple devices, including Apple TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, and Android TV.

How to Use Hot Player: Download the app from your TV’s app store or sideload it onto your device. Log in with your subscription details, then use the search function to find MLS games, and enjoy watching.

2. Smarters Pro

Smarters Pro is another highly rated IPTV app for watching MLS soccer. It provides access to numerous sports channels, including MLS broadcasts. This app is compatible with a wide variety of devices, from Apple TV to Android TVs.

How to Use Smarters Pro: After installing the app, log in with your IPTV credentials. Navigate to the sports section and locate the MLS games. From there, you can easily stream live matches.

3. IBO Player

IBO Player is another option for MLS fans who want to watch games through IPTV. It supports a wide range of channels and provides a smooth streaming experience.

How to Use IBO Player: Download the IBO Player app, sign in with your IPTV service details, and search for MLS matches under sports or live TV.

4. Atlas Pro

Atlas Pro offers high-quality IPTV streaming, allowing you to watch MLS games with minimal buffering and maximum enjoyment.

How to Use Atlas Pro: Install the Atlas Pro app on your TV, log in, and search for the MLS games you want to watch.

5. Elk Player

Elk Player is a versatile IPTV app that supports a wide variety of sports channels, including those broadcasting MLS matches.

How to Use Elk Player: Download the Elk Player app from the app store or sideload it, enter your login details, and navigate to the live sports section to find MLS games.

6. Bay TV

Bay TV is a great IPTV app that offers access to a range of sports channels, including those that broadcast MLS matches.

How to Use Bay TV: Once you’ve installed the Bay TV app, log in with your IPTV credentials, and browse the sports section to find MLS games.

How to Watch MLS on Different Devices

Now that you know about some of the top IPTV apps for streaming MLS, let’s look at how to use them on your favorite devices. Here’s how to watch MLS on Apple TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, and Android TV using the IPTV apps mentioned above.

Apple TV

Apple TV is one of the best devices for streaming MLS games with IPTV. Here’s how to set it up:

Download Your IPTV App: Go to the App Store on your Apple TV and download the IPTV app of your choice, such as Hot Player, Smarters Pro, or IBO Player.
Log In: Open the app and log in with your IPTV subscription details.
Watch MLS: Navigate to the sports section or search for MLS, then select the game you want to watch.

Samsung TV and LG TV

Samsung and LG Smart TVs both support a wide range of IPTV apps. Here’s how to watch MLS games on them:

Install IPTV Apps: Open the app store on your TV, find and install apps like Atlas Pro, Elk Player, or Bay TV.
Sign In: Once installed, log in with your IPTV credentials.
Stream MLS: Search for MLS games in the sports section and enjoy the match in high definition.

Android TV

Android TV is another great platform for IPTV streaming. Here’s how to watch MLS:

Install the IPTV App: From the Google Play Store, download any IPTV app you prefer, such as Smarters Pro or Bay TV.
Log In: Enter your IPTV service credentials to access your subscription.
Find MLS Games: Browse through the sports channels and select an MLS game to watch.