USL Cup

Broadcast Rights

In the United States, you can watch USL Cup live on ESPN.

ESPN

» Seasons 2024-2027

ESPN has secured broadcast rights to the USL Cup in the USA thanks to a multi-year media rights agreement struck in early 2024. Under the terms of this agreement, ESPN was named the exclusive broadcaster of the USL Cup in its debut season, with the network sharing those rights with CBS Sports in subsequent years.

More details

Fans can watch live USL Cup games on the ESPN app with an ESPN Select subscription. Viewers can also purchase a subscription to stream live USL Cup matches on the Disney+ streaming service, though ESPN Select may be bundled with Disney+ and other Disney-owned offerings.

Subscribers can stream the competition on the Disney+ website, the Disney+ app, or the ESPN app via a supported internet-connected device. This includes smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and more.

Furthermore, Stateside fans subscribed to partnered third-party cable, satellite, and streaming providers can also watch nationally televised USL Cup games when available on ESPN linear networks. However, availability is subject to change, so please check the official website of your pay-TV service for the latest information.

Available on:

ESPN Select and ESPN App

About USL Cup

History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The USL Cup is an annual knockout soccer competition in men's domestic American soccer. The 2024 edition features teams exclusively in USL League One; however, USL intends to expand the cup beyond just that league.

Previous to the creation of the USL Cup, USL League One had regularly played an unbalanced schedule of 28–32 games, often playing other teams in the league three times. The league integrated the USL Cup into the league season, allowing each team to play each other twice (once home, once away) to balance the league schedule, while also preserving the length of the season.

The competition splits the teams into three groups of four teams. Each team plays the other three teams in their group twice, home and away. They play an additional two games against two teams in other groups, one at home and one away. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, a penalty kick shootout will occur. A regulation win is worth three points, a shootout win worth two, and a shootout loss worth one. The top team from each group advances to a knockout round, in addition to the team who scores the most goals in the competition that does not win their group.