USL and ESPN agree groundbreaking three-year media partnership to stream over 400 matches across network platforms in 2024

One of the initial offerings on ESPN+ when the streaming platform launched, the USL has worked with ESPN for the past nine seasons. The new agreement ensured that over 400 matches per season of the USL Championship and the USL League One will air on ESPN platforms starting in 2024.

As part of the agreement, ESPN will be the exclusive home of the inaugural League One cup competition, a World Cup-style competition that takes place throughout the year. The tournament will feature a number of interesting rule modifications to encourage attacking, including penalty kicks to decide tied matches throughout the tournament and total goals scored being the first tie-breaker in the group stage. The group stage, knockouts and final will all stream on ESPN+.

“As we enter a new era for the USL with the 2026 World Cup approaching, our focus is to provide fans with more ways to watch than ever before and be the most widely available soccer league in our country,” said Chief Commercial Officer Court Jeske. “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with ESPN during which the USL has grown significantly, and we are incredibly excited to continue this partnership.”

The agreement completes the USL's media package heading into 2024, which will see games broadcast on ESPN, CBS and local linear platforms. The USL will air 35 matches on national linear television between CBS Sports channels and ESPN networks, a massive increase from nine last season.

The league is expected to announce its broadcast schedule in the coming days.

The 2024 season will include two new first-year clubs, with Rhode Island FC in the USL Championship and Spokane Velocity FC in USL League One.

Both the USL Championship and the USL League One are nearing opening weekend, with both leagues set to kick off their season on Saturday March 9.