Fox Sports Unveils 2016 MLS Schedule, Shifts Four Matches to Broadcast Network

Fox Sports unveiled its 2016 Major League Soccer regular season television schedule, and following the first year of an eight year agreement that saw viewership on FS1 increase 40% over the prior year, Fox Sports has moved four MLS matches to the Fox broadcast network this season. 

Fox-SportsThe move provides the world-class soccer league with unprecedented over-the-air network exposure in approximately 115 million U.S. television homes.

Fox Sports’ 2016 MLS television schedule, which runs from March through October, consists of 34 matches.  In addition to the four currently earmarked for Fox, 30 games are scheduled for FS1, while Fox Deportes televises 34 in Spanish, with most matches kicking off on Sundays in prime time.

Following their MLS Cup victory last year, the champion Portland Timbers lead the Fox Sports schedule, appearing seven times, along with Sporting Kansas City and the LA Galaxy. New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls combine for 14 appearances and two sure-to-be highly-anticipated derbies on Fox, while the Seattle Sounders are featured five times throughout the season. 

Coverage begins Sunday, March 6 (7:00 PM ET) as Clint Dempsey and the Sounders host Kansas City, followed by the debut of the Timbers the following weekend playing the San Jose Earthquakes, Sunday, March 13 (7:00 PM ET), both matches on FS1 and Fox Deportes. The first match on Fox broadcast network comes on Saturday, May 21 (3:00 PM ET) with a crosstown battle between NYC FC and the Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium. The Fox broadcast network also features match-ups between the Sounders and Timbers in the raucous Pacific Northwest rivalry on Sunday, July 17 (3:00 PM ET), a second NYC FC-NY Red Bulls match at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, July 24 (1:00 PM ET) and a rematch of the 2015 MLS Cup Playoff match with the Timbers and Kansas City on Sunday, July 31 (2:00 PM ET). All matches on Fox are preceded by a special 30-minute pregame show.

Other notable fixtures include a doubleheader on Sunday, April 10 with NYC FC and the Chicago Fire playing at 7:00 PM ET followed by a Galaxy-Timbers matchup at 9:30 PM ET, both matches on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Orlando City SC and Brazilian superstar Kaka face the Sounders on Sunday, Aug. 7 (7:00 PM ET) to lead-off the season’s second doubleheader, while the nightcap boasts a coast-to-coast clash between the Galaxy and the Red Bulls (9:30 PM ET). Other schedule highlights to flag are an appearance by Didier Drogba’s Montreal Impact against the Galaxy on Sunday, May 29 (7:00 PM ET) and MLS Cup finalist Columbus Crew SC in action versus the New England Revolution, Sunday, Sept. 25 (7:00 PM ET). Of the 34-match schedule, one game is still to be determined. 

Fox Sports televises select MLS Cup Playoff matches as well as the MLS Cup. Television plans for MLS’ jewel events are expected at a later date.

All matches on Fox, FS1 and Fox Deportes are available via the Fox Sports GO and Fox Soccer 2Go apps, and on the web through FOXSportsGO.com.

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