RefCam to Debut During Earthquakes vs. LAFC Match on September 13
MLS San Jose Earthquakes

RefCam to Debut During Earthquakes vs. LAFC Match on September 13

Published on September 4, 2025 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - To elevate the fan experience, MLS Season Pass broadcasts on Apple TV will launch exciting new vantage points and immersive perspectives this season. After extensive behind-the-scenes testing, the Ref Cam will debut live during the San Jose Earthquakes vs. Los Angeles Football Club match on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m. PT at Levi's Stadium.

"We're constantly looking for new ways to bring fans closer to the game, and these broadcast innovations do exactly that," said Chris Schlosser, MLS Senior VP of Emerging Ventures. "With Ref Cam giving viewers a live front-row seat to the referee's perspective and the TikTok Player Spotlight putting fans at the heart of the action, we're redefining how soccer is experienced-making it more immersive, more engaging and more personal than ever before."

The Ref Cam is a compact, body-worn camera that offers a first-person, real-time view of the action-allowing fans to see the referee's view on the field. This immersive perspective will provide fans with unique insight into match dynamics and officiating decisions, while also providing new training tools for referees from the Professional Referee Organization. The Ref Cam will be available as part of the broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Following its debut, Ref Cam will be featured during Sunday Night Soccer broadcasts on Apple TV and linear distribution partners for the remainder of the season. Prior to its official rollout, the June 7 match between D.C. United and Chicago Fire FC served as a test run. Additional testing during the New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew match on Aug. 30 and the Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy match on Sept. 6 will provide footage for studio programming, including MLS Countdown/La Previa and MLS Wrap-Up/El Resumen. Starting this weekend, every Sunday Night Soccer match will also include graphics in Spanish.

MLS was an early innovator in this space, becoming one of the first professional soccer leagues to implement Ref Cam technology during a live match broadcast. The concept premiered at the 2013 MLS All-Star Game, when referee Hilario Grajeda wore a camera during the match against AS Roma. At the time, it was a groundbreaking advancement in soccer broadcasting. While other sports had begun experimenting with similar technology, MLS was the first major soccer property to showcase Ref Cam footage in a high-profile televised event. Since then, the technology has evolved significantly-most recently featured during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup-and MLS continues to lead the way in delivering immersive fan experiences.

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