Apple TV menyiarkan pertandingan sepak bola profesional Major League Soccer (MLS) antara LA Galaxy melawan Houston Dynamo FC di Stadion Dignity Health Sports Park, California, pada Sabtu secara penuh menggunakan kamera iPhone 17 Pro.
Uji coba penyiaran langsung berskala besar ini dilakukan menjelang jeda kompetisi MLS untuk Piala Dunia 2026. Langkah tersebut menjadi tonggak baru setelah Apple sebelumnya menguji coba empat unit iPhone 17 Pro dalam siaran Major League Baseball (MLB) serta final MLS Cup 2025 antara Inter Miami dan Vancouver Whitecaps.
Produser Eksekutif Acara Langsung Apple, Royce Dickerson, memberikan penjelasan mengenai inovasi penyiaran teranyar ini dalam sesi wawancara berkala bersama GOAL Convo.
"We first introduced iPhone into the professional workflow of our Friday Night Baseball broadcast last September, and the response from fans was incredibly positive. Since then, we’ve continued integrating iPhone footage into our live sports coverage - from the 2025 MLS Cup Final, where Inter Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps, to weekly Friday Night Baseball and MLS broadcasts on Apple TV - using the device to capture select gameplay and cinematic in-stadium moments." kata Dickerson, Executive Producer of Live Events Apple.
Dickerson membeberkan alasan pemilihan laga LA Galaxy kontra Houston Dynamo FC sebagai panggung utama eksperimen teknologi penyiaran live terbaru mereka.
"The match comes during the final weekend of MLS play before the league pauses for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, making it an exciting moment to showcase innovation in live sports broadcasting on a global stage." kata Dickerson, Executive Producer of Live Events Apple.
Teknologi ponsel pintar kelas atas ini diklaim mampu menangkap visual dari sudut pandang yang sulit dijangkau oleh kamera televisi konvensional.
"iPhone 17 Pro Max cameras will capture all the live gameplay and key matchday moments throughout the stadium, including player introductions, warmups, in-net goal angles, and immersive stadium shots. Because of the compact size and versatility of iPhone, the team has been able to position cameras in unique locations throughout the venue, delivering dynamic new perspectives that bring fans closer to the game." kata Dickerson, Executive Producer of Live Events Apple.
Kerja sama penyiaran komprehensif antara Apple dan MLS ini sendiri telah berjalan selama empat musim sejak disepakati pada 2022.
"We’re committed to delivering fans the best possible viewing experience and have learned a great deal over the course of the partnership. Fans have responded especially positively to the unique product features we’ve introduced, the premium production quality, and the simplicity of being able to access every match in one dedicated destination with no blackouts. We’ve continued to iterate, experiment, and introduce new features, enhancements, and partnerships designed to reach new audiences and bring fans even closer to the sport - and we’ll continue building on that momentum moving forward." kata Dickerson, Executive Producer of Live Events Apple.
Piala Dunia 2026 di Amerika Utara dinilai akan menjadi pendorong besar pertumbuhan minat olahraga sepak bola serta perluasan jangkauan penonton global.
"We remain encouraged by the momentum we’re seeing, and interest in MLS continues to grow. With the World Cup just around the corner, we believe it will serve as another major catalyst for the sport across North America. Looking ahead, our focus remains on continuing to elevate the fan experience and innovate around how the sport is presented. We’re proud of what we’ve built for fans - from the quality and consistency of the broadcasts to the simplicity and accessibility of the platform. We see significant opportunity ahead to continue expanding the league’s global reach, reach new audiences, and bring fans even closer to the game." kata Dickerson, Executive Producer of Live Events Apple.
Di sisi lain, FIFA juga mengumumkan kerja sama dengan Global Citizen dan Live Nation untuk menggelar pertunjukan paruh waktu pertama dalam sejarah final Piala Dunia di MetLife Stadium yang dimeriahkan oleh Madonna, Shakira, dan BTS.
Presiden FIFA, Gianni Infantino, menjelaskan bahwa pertunjukan kolaboratif tersebut mengusung misi kemanusiaan global yang berfokus pada pendidikan anak-masing di seluruh dunia.
"[T]his historic show will also shine a light on a greater purpose by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our shared mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide. It will be a celebration of football, unity and shared humanity that will resonate far beyond the final whistle," kata Infantino, Presiden FIFA.
Uji coba siaran menggunakan iPhone ini mendapatkan kritik dari jurnalis olahraga Andrew Marchand lewat laporan The New York Times, yang menilai agenda ini lebih condong ke arah promosi produk komersial ketimbang murni meningkatkan kualitas penayangan pertandingan sepak bola bagi para penggemar.
Kritik serupa juga dilaporkan oleh Forbes, yang menyoroti kendala teknis mendasar pada siaran Apple TV, termasuk keterlambatan penayangan tayangan ulang (replay) pelanggaran krusial serta minimnya konteks analisis data taktis di layar kaca.
Penyiaran berbasis teknologi mutakhir ini bergulir di tengah performa tidak stabil skuad asuhan Greg Vanney di LA Galaxy, yang harus tampil tanpa playmaker Riqui Puig dan pencetak gol terbanyak Joao Klauss akibat cedera menjelang jeda Piala Dunia 2026.
