Which MLS games are free to watch on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass today?

One final round of MLS fixtures will be played on Saturday before the domestic schedule gives way to the Leagues Cup, the month-long tournament revamped in 2023. We’re approaching the end of the regular season and there’s plenty to play for with a real battle at the top of both Conferences.

All the games will be streamed on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, with certain games available for free without a subscription. This weekend there’s a duo of free fixtures: the ‘Soccer Capital Derby’ between Sporting Kansas City and St. Louis City, and the meeting of Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy and in-form Portland Timbers.

What is the origin of the Soccer Capital Derby?

Sporting KC and St. Louis have only met six times in competitive fixtures but there’s already plenty of history between the two Midwestern teams. St. Louis played this debut MLS season last year but, prior to the first meeting, tensions were already high between the two teams.

There was a legal battle between the St. Louis-supporting creators of the ‘Soccer Capitol Podcast’ due to a trademark claim from Sporting KC, who hold the rights to the name ‘The Soccer Capital of America’. Soccer in the region is said to date back to the late 1800s and boasts some of the oldest organised leagues in the country.

Kansas City had been chosen as one of MLS’s original founding teams but St. Louis had to wait until 2023 to see their city represented in the league. They enjoyed a historic debut season, winning the Western Conference, but they suffered a shock elimination in the first round of the playoffs. They were beaten by eighth-placed Sporting Kansas City.

When does Leagues Cup start?

Last year saw Inter Miami, inspired by the arrival of Lionel Messi, win a historic first-ever trophy. Messi scored ten goals in seven games to drag Miami to the title and cap a stunning first month with the team.

The Herons will look to defend their trophy in the MLS-Liga MX competition, which will get underway on Friday, July 26. The group stage will conclude on Tuesday, August 6 and the final is set for Sunday, August 25. However the Herons’ hopes could well hinge on Lionel Messi’s recovery from injury after he suffered ligament damage in the Copa America final.

“He twisted his ankle, and the injury is present, so tests are needed and wait for results,” Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino said of Messi’s injury. “I’ve had the opportunity to see other images. There will be tests done to determine the severity of the situation. We are always informed through our kinesiologist Walter Insaurralde, who is also the kinesiologist of the national team. He is very cautious at giving a final diagnosis before results are in.”