ESPN's 2017 MLS broadcast begins on Sunday, March 5 at 5 p.m. ET with Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC, the 2017 MLS season opener for the two clubs and the first match at the new Orlando City Stadium.
ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the Orlando-NYC FC clash, which will feature some of the league’s top international stars such as Brazil’s Kaká and Italy’s Antonio Nocerino (Orlando), and Spain’s David Villa and Italy’s Andrea Pirlo (New York City).
Highlights of 2017 MLS Season on ESPN:
28 of the 31 regular-season matches will air on ESPN. The remaining three on ESPN2. All 31 matches will be televised on ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language sports network, and streamed live on WatchESPN and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes+;
26 of the 29 scheduled matches involve at least one 2016 MLS Cup Playoff team;
2016 MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York City FC and new Atlanta United FC lead the league with six regular-season appearances each on ESPN networks;
2016 MLS Cup rematch: Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, forward Jordan Morris and the champion Seattle Sounders will host Toronto FC, led by Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, in a rematch of 2016 MLS Cup on Saturday, May 6, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN;
MLS Rivalry Week on ESPN: Cascadia Cup -- Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders -- in a matchup of the last two MLS Cup title winners on Sunday, June 25. The second MLS Rivalry Week on ESPN will feature last season’s four Eastern Conference finalists in a weekend doubleheader – New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC on Friday, August 25, and Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC on Sunday, August 27;
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN will carry the only two matches between the league’s new expansion teams – Minnesota United FC and Atlanta United FC – on Sunday, March 12 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 13 at 6 p.m.;
Toronto FC vs. New York City FC (July 30) features a rematch of 2016 MLS Eastern Conference semifinals and a matchup between the last two league MVPs – Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco (2015) and New York City’s David Villa (2016);
Two Los Angeles Galaxy-Seattle Sounders games on ESPN networks – April 23 and July 29 – feature the only two teams to make the playoffs in each of the past eight seasons, winning four MLS titles in that span.
ESPN’s 2017 MLS Schedule
(Schedule Subject to Change)
