In a groundbreaking move for American soccer, CBS Sports has agreed with the United States Soccer League (USL) to broadcast games on network television for the first time in league history.
The four-year deal, which runs through the 2027 USL Championship and League One season, will feature 100 matches broadcast across CBS, CBS Sports Network, and the CBS Sports Golazo Network. Five games will be aired on CBS, including the USL Championship Final, while 20 games will be shown on CBS Sports Network each season. More than 75 matches will be streamed live on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. All games will also be simulcast on Paramount+.
This marks the end of ESPN’s eight-year tenure as the USL’s exclusive national media partner. While all USL games were available on ESPN+, only select matches, including the championship game, were broadcast on ESPN2. Disney, ESPN’s parent company, did not air any USL matches on its broadcast network affiliate ABC.
“CBS Sports has become a destination for soccer fans in America, and we are thrilled to bring to their platforms the unique soccer experience that only the USL provides,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “We are entering a new, exciting phase, both on and off the field, and we look forward to working with CBS Sports over the next four years to take our leagues and our game to new heights.”
The USL comprises the second and third tiers of American soccer. It is the longest-running professional soccer organisation in the United States, founded in 1991.
With Major League Soccer (MLS) moving its matches to Apple TV+ on a streaming-only subscription platform, CBS will become the only broadcaster to show domestic soccer broadcasts available on linear television. Last season, CBS held the rights to the US Open Cup, witnessing a surge in viewership thanks to a run to the final by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The US Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition, featuring teams from MLS and the two tiers of the USL.
ESPN will broadcast its final USL game on November 12 when Charleston Battery hosts Phoenix Rising FC in the Championship Final.
This historic broadcast deal between CBS Sports and the USL is a significant step forward for American soccer. It will bring the league’s high-quality matches to a broader audience and help to grow the sport in the United States.