ESPN to Air MLS Soccer Sunday Doubleheader on October 21
October 16, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - As teams vie for the remaining spots and seeding in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, Major League Soccer today announced the broadcast lineup for Sunday's doubleheader on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The penultimate week of the 2018 MLS regular season consists of 22 teams in action on Sunday, October 21, with all five Eastern Conference matchups beginning at 3 p.m. ET and all six Western Conference matchups beginning 5 p.m. ET. Flex broadcast scheduling during the final two weeks of the regular season allows national broadcast partners to select the most compelling matches while providing live look-ins to pivotal moments throughout the league.
At 3pm ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes will showcase Atlanta United hosting the Chicago Fire in front of more than 70,000 fans at Mercedes Benz Stadium. With a win, Atlanta United, including marquee striker Josef Martinez, could earn not only the top seed in the East and home field advantage headed into the postseason, but also the coveted Supporters' Shield - awarded by the fans to team with the best regular season record - and a 2019 Concacaf Champions League berth.
At 5 p.m. ET, the Western Conference spotlight match is a must-win for global icon Zlatan IbrahimoviÃâ¡ and the LA Galaxy as they push for a postseason berth on the road, in front of what will be a record-breaking crowd of more than 50,000 in Minnesota (5 p.m. ET). The game will be Minnesota United's final match in TCF Bank Stadium before the club celebrates the opening of Allianz Field in 2019.
In addition to domestic coverage in the U.S., TSN and TVA Sports will this week air the classic Canadian rivalry of Montreal versus Toronto. The Montreal Impact are in a race against surging D.C. United for one of the final spots in the Eastern Conference playoff picture headed into the final two weeks of the season, but Toronto FC will be back full force as all seven of the club's international callups, including Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley, Marky Delgado and Jonathan Osorio return from international duty for the match.
The full slate of games will air in more than 170 countries worldwide, with international broadcast partners carrying live look-ins as the drama unfolds on Goal Zone.
On both sides of ESPN's coverage, MLS will provide an hour of in-depth analysis during "MLS MatchDay Central," which will be hosted on MLSsoccer.com and MLS social media platforms (Facebook / Twitter/ YouTube ). Pregame commentary from 2-3 p.m. ET will set the stage before the Eastern Conference matchups, with postgame coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET following the Western Conference games to break down the final implications leading into Decision Day 2018 presented by AT&T on October 28.
Week 34 - October 21, 2018 - Schedule:
"MLS Matchday Central" 2-3 p.m. ET MLSsoccer.com Facebook/ Twitter/ YouTube
Atlanta United v. Chicago Fire 3 p.m.. ET ESPN / ESPN Deportes
D.C. United v. New York City FC 3 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / YES / NC8 / CW Richmond
Montreal Impact v. Toronto FC 3 p.m. ET ESPN+ / TVAS / TSN
Orlando City SC v. Columbus Crew SC 3 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / YouTube TV (Orlando) / TV27 / CW Columbus / Spectrum Sports OH / BCSN2
Philadelphia Union v. New York Red Bulls 3 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / 6abc / MSG
Minnesota United FC v. LA Galaxy 5 p.m. ET ESPN / ESPN Deportes
FC Dallas v. Sporting Kansas City 5 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / FOX Sports KC / TXA-21
Houston Dynamo v. Seattle Sounders FC 5 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / YouTube TV (Seattle) / JOEtv / KUBE 57
Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) v. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5 p.m. ET TSN / ESPN+, / UniMás 46, YouTube TV [LA region only]
Portland Timbers v. Real Salt Lake 5 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / ROOT Sports NW/ KMYU
San Jose Earthquakes v. Colorado Rapids 5 p.m. ET ESPN+ / MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada) / Altitude / NBC Sports California
"MLS Matchday Central" 7:30 p.m. ET MLSsoccer.com Facebook / Twitter / YouTube
*Matches not airing on national TV will air via regional broadcast partners, ESPN + and via MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada. Blackout restrictions apply.
Major League Soccer Stories from October 16, 2018
- Aaron Long Earns First Career USMNT Cap - New York Red Bulls
- Game Notes: Sounders FC at Orlando City SC - October 17, 2018 - Seattle Sounders FC
- Orlando City Hosts Seattle in Penultimate Home Game - Orlando City SC
- LA Galaxy to Host Fan Appreciation Day on October 28 at StubHub Center During Final MLS Regular Season Match - LA Galaxy
- BBVA Compass Stadium to Host Fútbol & Football Doubleheader on Saturday, November 17 - Houston Dynamo FC
- By the Numbers | International Play; Season Winding Down - Orlando City SC
- Statement from Colorado Rapids Owner E. Stanley Kroenke on the Passing of Paul Allen - Colorado Rapids
- Preview: Playoff-Bound Sporting KC Visits Vancouver on Wednesday - Sporting Kansas City
- LAFC Forward Carlos Vela Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week - Los Angeles FC
- Los Angeles Football Club Forward Carlos Vela Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Know Your Opponent | Seattle Sounders - Orlando City SC
- Colorado Rapids Recall Five Players from USL Loan - Colorado Rapids
- MNUFC Announces Events for Fan Appreciation Night - Minnesota United FC
- ESPN to Broadcast Chicago Fire at Atlanta United FC Match on Sunday - Chicago Fire FC
- ESPN to Air MLS Soccer Sunday Doubleheader on October 21 - MLS
- Philadelphia Union to Host College Clash eSports Tournament - Philadelphia Union
- Best in Show: Atlanta, Red Bulls Pursue Supporters' Shield Supremacy - This Week in MLS - MLS
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