Apple and Major League Soccer today announced the initial team of announcers who will serve as the faces and voices of MLS Season Passthe unprecedented subscription service launching February 1 on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions.
MLS Season Pass features live streams and replays of all MLS regular season matches, Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs and Leagues Cup – all in one place with consistent game schedules and no blackouts. It will also feature pre-match shows, a quick show that provides live looks at each match and features discussions of all the key moments, plus a post-match wrap to close each night. To know more
All matches will have commentary in either English or Spanish, while matches involving Canadian teams will also have commentary in French. Pre-game shows and post-game wraps will be available in both English and Spanish. Fans in the US and Canada will also have the option to select their home team’s radio for audio streaming in the Apple TV app, where available. To know more
The complete on-air broadcast team and the complete production plan for MLS Season Pass will be announced before the start of the 2023 MLS season, which begins on February 25. MLS Season Pass marks the official start of the 10-year partnership between MLS and Apple, a historic first for a major professional sports league.
Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Services at Apple: “The MLS Season Pass will provide the best viewing experience MLS fans have ever had, in large part for these incredible broadcasters, who will score the matches and bring their passion, energy and know-how to this league, these clubs , and this sport every week. Today marks a landmark moment for our partnership with MLS as we begin to reveal some of the faces and voices of this unprecedented streaming service, and we can’t wait for fans to start tuning in next month.”
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner: “We are thrilled to assemble a dynamic and experienced team of MLS Season Pass presenters, individuals who have lived and breathed the beautiful game for many years. This talented group of men and women have played at some of the biggest moments on the football and sports scene over the past decade; whether covering them on the air or participating in them as players, they have been at the heart of building our sport in North America. We are excited to see how their diversity of experiences will elevate our coverage and storytelling across our live matches and studio shows, bringing our sport to fans around the world like never before.”
Kyndra of St. Aubin has been in the broadcast industry since completing her college football career at Minnesota in 2003. She has been part of the FOX Sports family since 2011, having worked on two FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2015 and 2019. She has spent the last five years as television analyst for Minnesota United FC.
Mauricio Edu, a member of the 2010 USA World Cup team who played 12 seasons in MLS and Europe, has spent the past five years as an analyst for FOX Sports. He has also called Atlanta United games for the past two seasons and provides football commentary for CBS Sports.
Lori Lindsey played 14 seasons as a professional and was a member of the 2011 USA Women’s World Cup team before serving as a soccer analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports. She also worked as a sideline reporter for Nashville SC.
Danielle Slaton, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and bronze at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup as a member of the US Women’s National Team, has been a television match analyst for 13 years. In 2018, she made history as part of the first women’s broadcast team to cover one of the top five men’s sports leagues in the United States, joining Lisa Byington and Katie Witham on FOX Sports’ broadcast of DC United v New England Revolution.
taylor twellman, a former MLS MVP and National Team USA player, joins the MLS Season Pass after spending the last 11 years as the lead soccer analyst for ABC and ESPN. During his playing career, he was one of the most prolific scorers in MLS history, scoring 101 goals in 174 appearances for New England. He was the fastest player to reach the 100-goal milestone until his new MLS Season Pass teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips (159) surpassed the milestone.
Marcelo Balboa, a former United States national team quarterback and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, became the first American player to break the 100 cap barrier in 1995. After retiring in 2002, he moved into broadcasting, where he was the lead analyst for ESPN/ABC coverage of the 2006 World Cup. He has been part of Univision’s MLS and international soccer coverage since 2014 and has spent the last 15 years calling Colorado Rapids matches for Altitude TV. Balboa joins the team as a Spanish-speaking analyst.
sebastien Le Toux joins the MLS Season Pass as a French-speaking analyst after working as a studio analyst for the Philadelphia Union’s PHL 17 coverage for the past four seasons. The Rennes, France native enjoyed an 11-year MLS career, including six years with Philadelphia, where he became the club’s first All-Star in 2010.
Sacha Kljestan, fresh out of his retirement from the LA Galaxy, joins the MLS Season Pass as a studio analyst. A former member of the United States Men’s National Team, Kljestan played 13 seasons in MLS, earning two All-Star bids (2008, 2016). He was a member of the 2008 US Olympic team. Most recently, Kljestan served as a digital host and analyst for Fox Sports’ coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
Bradley Wright-Phillips, who started his playing career with Manchester City, spent nine seasons in MLS (2013-21), winning two MLS Golden Boot awards and finishing as the sixth highest goalscorer (117) in league history. He will make his debut as a studio analyst on the show.
diego valeri, 2017 MLS MVP and 2015 MLS Cup MVP, is the all-time leading scorer in Portland Timbers history. A four-time All-Star, he led the Timbers to the 2015 MLS Cup title. He will make his on-air debut as a Spanish-language studio analyst.
Liam McHugh, who played football at the University of Buffalo, will serve as co-host of the weekly show that will cover all the key moments of each game. He currently leads Turner Sports’ NHL coverage after serving in the same role for NHL on NBC for 10 years. He was the lead presenter on NBCSN, where he anchored coverage of the Premier League, college football, college basketball and the Tour de France. He was also part of NBC Sports’ coverage of sunday night football and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football.
Jillian Sakovits joins the team as a pre-game studio presenter. She has spent the last four years covering Atlanta United as a pre-game and post-game host for FOX Sports South and has also been a sideline reporter for ESPN’s football coverage.
Tony Cherchiwho has covered football extensively for ESPN, Univision and Tubi, including several World Cups, will serve as a Spanish-language studio presenter and analyst on select matches throughout the season.
Max Bretos comes to the MLS Season Pass after spending the past five years as the play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Football Club. Previously, he hosted MLS coverage, played play-by-play for ESPN, and was the lead play-by-play football announcer for FOX Sports from 2003 to 2010.
Steve Cangialosi joins the team after handling play-by-play duties for the New York Red Bulls at MSG for 21 years and the New Jersey Devils for 12. His extensive play-by-play record also includes the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games for NBC, as well as calling MLS, Serie A, La Liga, DFB Pokal, Bundesliga games for ESPN, FOX Sports and SiriusXM.
Jake Zivin spent the last seven years as the popular TV voice of the Portland Timbers, where she won three Emmy Awards. He has also been a key member of FOX Sports’ football coverage, calling MLS games, Copa America, SheBelieves Cup, CONCACAF Champions League and CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.
Pablo Ramirezformer goalkeeper and originally from Jalisco, Mexico, he is one of Spain’s most popular television broadcasters, having spearheaded Univision’s football coverage for the past 22 years, including MLS and four World Cups.
Frederic Lord will be one of the main play-by-play voices in French broadcasts. He has handled CF Montréal’s play-by-play duties for TVA Sports since the club’s MLS inception in 2012.
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