MLS 2025 Season kickoff: How to watch Inter Miami vs. NYC
Ever since soccer star Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, the popularity of Major League Soccer in the U.S. has exploded thanks to fans clamoring to see the legend play in person. Messi still has one more season on his contract with Miami, and while he could always extend that, there's no word yet on his plans. With that in mind, soccer fans wanting to see him in action before his eventual retirement will likely want to take advantage by catching Inter Miami as much as possible while Messi is still donning their signature pink kit. One way to do that is by tuning in on Saturday when the team helps kick off the 2025 MLS season in a match against New York City FC. Miami will host New York City for a game that kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Chase Stadium. If you want to catch Messi and Inter Miami as they take on NYC, here's everything you need to know about how to watch the game, including how to watch it for free.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. New York City FC:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Game: Inter Miami CF vs. New York City FC
Streaming: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, DirecTV
How to watch the Inter Miami vs. NYC FC game?
The Inter Miami vs. NYC FC game is available with a subscription to MLS Season Pass, the only place fans can watch every MLS match with no blackouts. MLS Season Pass is available on Apple TV and, for the first time, fans can also access it on DirecTV this season. Some T-Mobile subscribers, meanwhile, can access MLS content as part of their plan — scroll down for details.
MLS Season Pass is a must-have if you want to catch every soccer game of the 2025 season. Subscribers get English and Spanish broadcasts of hundreds of live MLS matches, plus game replays, highlights, analysis, and more original programming.
Existing Apple TV+ subscribers get a $20 discount on the annual plan, making the yearly price just $79 per season or $12.99 per month.
How to watch the Inter Miami vs. NYC FC game for free?
DirecTV subscribers receive a free trial of MLS Season Pass from Feb. 22 through March 1, meaning they can watch Miami play NYC and tune into every other MLS game for free, with the option to subscribe to Season Pass. If you're not a DirecTV subscriber and you still want to watch the game for free, there's one more way: T-Mobile is giving qualified T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers a promotional offer for complimentary access to the full season of MLS Season Pass with no blackout dates.
T-Mobile customers can redeem this offer via T-Mobile Tuesdays in the T-Life app, starting February 18.
A subscription to DIRECTV includes access to dozens of channels, including ABC, ESPN, TNT, FOX Sports, NBA TV & 40+ regional sports networks, making it one of the most comprehensive places to watch sports. In 2025, DIRECTV is also offering soccer fans access to every MLS game by offering an MLS Season Pass add-on. Matches will be available to watch live in the DIRECTV satellite guide on channels 480 through 495, similar to the viewing experience for other league packages. Customers who subscribe through DIRECTV will also be able to access MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app.
DIRECTV is making a free preview of MLS Season Pass available to all DIRECTV residential and commercial satellite customers from February 22 to March 1, after which those customers will be able to upgrade to MLS Season Pass through DIRECTV channels.
After a free trial, packages for DIRECTV start at $74.99/month.
MLS Week 1 Schedule
All times are ET.
Saturday, Feb. 22
LAFC vs. Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass, Fox)
Atlanta vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Cincinnati vs. New York, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Columbus vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
D.C. vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Miami vs. New York City, 2:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV)
Orlando vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Austin vs. Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Houston vs. Dallas, 8:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Nashville vs. New England, 8:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
St. Louis vs. Colorado, 8:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
San Jose vs. Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Seattle vs. Charlotte, 10:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Sunday, Feb. 23
Portland vs. Vancouver, 4:00 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
L.A. vs. San Diego, 7:00 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
Where to watch the MLS All Season Long:
This story has been updated since its original publication to clarify pricing for Apple TV+ subscribers.
