The Red Bulls and New York City FC will be televised by ESPN and ESPN Deportes nine times this Major League Soccer season.
That includes one of the three Hudson River Derby matches, when the Red Bulls host NYCFC at Red Bull Arena May 5 at 2 p.m.
The New York matches that the cable network will televise this season:
* Saturday, March 31 — San Jose Earthquakes vs. NYCFC, 8 p.m.
* Saturday, May 5 — Red Bulls vs. NYCFC, 2 p.m.
* Saturday, June 9 — Columbus Crew SC vs. Red Bulls, 5 p.m.
* Thursday, July 26 — Orlando City SC vs. NYCFC, 8 p.m.
* Sunday, July 29 — Seattle Sounders vs. NYCFC, 5 p.m.
* Sunday, Aug. 12 — Toronto FC vs. NYCFC, 4 p.m.
* Sunday, Sept. 16 — D.C. United vs. Red Bulls, 1 p.m.
* Sunday, Sept. 30, Red Bulls vs. Atlanta United FC, 1 p.m.
ESPN networks will televise 31 regular-season MLS matches, as well as the MLS All-Star Game in Atlanta Aug. 1.
The schedule begins Sunday, March 4 at 5 p.m. ET as 2017 MLS Cup finalist Seattle Sounders host Los Angeles FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The season-opener will mark the MLS debut of the expansion franchise, which is coached by former U.S. men’s national coach Bob Bradley and led by Mexican international forward Carlos Vela.
Some of the highlights:
* Twenty-eight 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 the ESPN App and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes+
* Twenty-seven games involve at least one 2017 MLS Cup playoff team or the new expansion franchise Los Angeles FC.
* The Sounders, Atlanta United FC, Orlando City SC and Los Angeles FC lead the league with six regular-season appearances each on ESPN networks.
* Defending champion Toronto FC, featuring Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, plus 2017 Best XI selections Sebastian Giovinco and Justin Morrow, will make two appearances in August against 2017 Eastern Conference playoff teams – Atlanta FC (Aug. 4) and NYCFC (Aug. 12). Last season Toronto became the first MLS club to win the domestic treble (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, domestic cup);
* MLS Rivalry Week on ESPN will feature a doubleheader on Friday, Aug. 24: Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United FC at 8 p.m., and the new Los Angeles Derby (LA Galaxy vs. LAFC) at 10:30 p.m.
* The Los Angeles franchises will meet twice on ESPN. Two of the three derby matches between the LA Galaxy – winners of a record five MLS Cups – vs. newcomer Los Angeles FC will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (July 26 and Aug. 24). The Galaxy’s sibling pair of Giovani and Jonathan Dos Santos will face Vela, their national team teammate.
* On May 13, Portland hosts Seattle in MLS’s top rivalry game – the Cascadia Cup. The teams have combined to win the last three Western Conference championships and two of the last three MLS Cups. Entering this season, the Timbers have sold out 125 consecutive MLS home games, and feature reigning league MVP Diego Valeri (21 goals, 11 assists)/
* In addition to the 31 regular-season matches, ESPN will televise the MLS All-Star Game Wednesday, Aug/ 1, live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will pit a squad of MLS All-Stars against a marquee team to be announced soon.
ESPN’s 2018 MLS Schedule
(Schedule Subject to Change)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Networks |
|
Sun, March 4 |
5 p.m. |
Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, March 11 |
3 p.m. |
Atlanta United FC vs. DC United |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes+ |
|
Sat, March 31 |
8 p.m. |
San Jose Earthquakes vs. New York City FC |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+ |
|
Sat, April 7 |
5 p.m. |
Atlanta United FC vs. Los Angeles FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, April 8 |
4 p.m. |
Orlando City SC vs. Portland Timbers |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Fri, April 13 |
8 p.m. |
Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, April 15 |
4 p.m. |
Sporting Kansas City vs. Seattle Sounders |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, April 22 |
4 p.m. |
Seattle Sounders vs. Minnesota United |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, April 29 |
4 p.m. |
Colorado Rapids vs. Orlando City SC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, May 5 |
2 p.m. |
New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, May 13 |
4 p.m. |
Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Tue, May 29 |
11 p.m. |
Los Angeles FC vs. DC United |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, June 2 |
5 p.m. |
Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, June 9 |
5 p.m. |
Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, June 30 |
7 p.m. |
Atlanta United FC vs. Orlando City SC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, July 15 |
6 p.m. |
Los Angeles FC vs. Portland Timbers |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Thu, July 26 |
8 p.m. |
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Thu, July 26 |
10:30 p.m. |
Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, July 28 |
9 p.m. |
Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes+ |
|
Sun, July 29 |
5 p.m. |
Seattle Sounders vs. New York City FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, Aug 4 |
4 p.m. |
Atlanta United FC vs. Toronto FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Aug 12 |
4 p.m. |
Toronto FC vs. New York City FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sat, Aug 18 |
4 p.m. |
Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Fri, Aug. 24 |
8 p.m. |
Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Fri, Aug 24 |
10:30 p.m. |
LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Sep 16 |
1 p.m. |
DC United vs. New York Red Bulls |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Sep 23 |
1 p.m. |
Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Sep 30 |
1 p.m. |
New York Red Bulls vs. Atlanta United FC |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Oct 7 |
1 p.m. |
DC United vs. Chicago Fire |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Oct 21 |
3 p.m. |
TBD |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
|
Sun, Oct 21 |
5:15 p.m. |
TBD |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
* All matches will be streamed live on the ESPN App and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes+
