FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, GRAY MEDIA, AND COX MEDIA GROUP CHARLOTTE TO TELEVISE MLS AND NWSL MATCHES LIVE FROM COACHELLA VALLEY INVITATIONAL
Preseason Event to be Broadcast for Second Consecutive Year
INDIO, CA (Feb. 5, 2026) – AEG’s annual Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI) announced today that it has entered into broadcast agreements with FOX Television Stations, Gray Media, and Cox Media Group Charlotte to televise 14 MLS and NWSL games live from the event taking place February 7-21, at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA.
2026 is the third year that CVI has hosted both men’s and women’s professional soccer preseason games. The men’s matches will take place February 7, 8, 11, and 14, with the women’s matches scheduled for February 15 and 21.
Beginning February 7, FOX will air a schedule of MLS games from CVI on its owned-and-operated stations in select home markets starting with the San Jose Earthquakes vs. Charlotte FC match at 12:00 p.m. (PST), followed by LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire at 10:00 a.m. (PST), and LAFC vs. New York City FC at 12:00 p.m. (PST) on February 8.
On February 11, FOX will continue their coverage of CVI with the LA Galaxy vs. St. Louis CITY SC at 11:00 a.m. (PST), followed by Sporting Kansas City vs. New York City FC at 1:30 p.m. (PST), and San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers at 3:00 p.m. (PST). FOX will conclude their coverage at CVI with New York City FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 1:00 p.m. on February 14.
Select FOX stations will also televise NWSL games on February 15 beginning with Portland Thorns FC vs. Angel City FC at 1:00 p.m. (PST), followed by Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC at 10:30 a.m. (PST), and Angel City FC vs. Seattle Reign at 1:30 p.m. on February 21.
Additionally, Gray Media will televise MLS matches, beginning on February 7 with St. Louis CITY SC vs. Austin FC at 11:00 a.m. (PST) and Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City at 1:30 p.m. (PST), on the Gray-owned network affiliates in St. Louis and Kansas City, respectively. Gray Media will also air the LA Galaxy vs St. Louis CITY SC at 11:00 a.m. (PST) on February 11 and the Charlotte FC vs. Minnesota United FC at 10:00 a.m. (PST) on February 14.
Gray will also air the NWSL game on February 15 featuring Portland Thorns FC vs. Angel City FC at 1:00 p.m. (PST) and Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC at 10:30 a.m. (PST) on February 21, both on the Gray-owned network affiliate in Portland.
“Broadcast television benefits fans, teams, and sports with direct connections and mass appeal,” said Sandy Breland, Chief Operating Officer of Gray Media. “We are thrilled to continue the relationship with AEG and the Coachella Velley invitational to bring fans their favorite teams, free over-the-air.”
CMG Charlotte will air the Charlotte FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 12:00 p.m. (PST) on February 7 and Charlotte FC vs. Minnesota United FC at 10:00 a.m. (PST) on February 14.
“CMG Charlotte is proud to partner with CVI to bring fans even closer to the Charlotte soccer experience,” said Cedric Thomas, Vice President and General Manager of CMG Charlotte. “This collaboration provides another way for us to continue delivering high‑quality, locally focused coverage that celebrates the passion of our community and gives Charlotte FC supporters a front‑row seat to every match.”
AEG will also provide match feeds to each of the participating franchises, enabling them to stream their games over their various team platforms.
“We believe these partnerships will enhance the CVI experience for fans across the country,” said Kara Korber, Senior Director of Business Development, AEG. “We’re eager to continue bringing our matches to new markets and elevating this event for years to come.”
Mulier Fortis served as the media advisor to AEG for the media rights negotiations.
SCHEDULE OF TELEVISED MATCHES (subject to change):
| DATE | TIME (PT) | MATCH | PARTNER(S) | LOCAL CHANNEL(S) |
| 2/7/26 | 11:00am | St. Louis CITY SC vs. Austin FC | GRAY | St. Louis: KMOV |
| 2/7/26 | 12:00pm | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Charlotte FC | FOX / ABC | San Francisco: KICU Charlotte: TV64 |
| 2/7/26 | 1:30pm | Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City | FOX / GRAY | Minnesota: WFTC / KMNF / KXLT Kansas City: KSMO |
| 2/8/26 | 10:00am | LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire FC | FOX | Los Angeles: KCOP |
| 2/8/26 | 12:00pm | LAFC vs. New York City FC | FOX | Los Angeles: KCOP New York: WWOR |
| 2/11/26 | 11:00am | LA Galaxy vs. St. Louis CITY SC | FOX / GRAY | Los Angeles: KCOP St. Louis: KMOV |
| 2/11/26 | 12:30pm | D.C. United vs. Minnesota United FC | FOX / GRAY | Minnesota: WFTC / KMNF / KXLT / KBJR |
| 2/11/26 | 1:30pm | Sporting Kansas City vs. New York City FC | FOX | New York: WWOR |
| 2/11/26 | 3:00pm | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers | FOX | San Francisco: KICU |
| 2/14/26 | 10:00am | Charlotte FC vs. Minnesota United FC | ABC / FOX / GRAY | Charlotte: TV64 Minnesota: WFTC / KMNF / KXLT / KBJR |
| 2/14/26 | 1:00pm | New York City FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes | FOX | New York: WWOR San Francisco: KICU |
| 2/15/26 | 1:00pm | Portland Thorns FC vs. Angel City FC | FOX / GRAY | Portland: KPDX Los Angeles: KCOP |
| 2/21/26 | 10:30am | Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC | FOX / GRAY | Houston: KTXH Portland: KPDX |
| 2/21/26 | 1:30pm | Angel City FC vs. Seattle Reign FC | FOX | Los Angeles: KCOP Seattle: KZJO |
All CVI matches will be produced by AEG and Tourbeau Sports Group, a national live sports production company that produces and packages more than 10,000 live broadcasts annually across the professional, collegiate and youth sports landscape.
Now in its fifth year, the Coachella Valley Invitational provides participating teams with the opportunity to prepare for their upcoming 2026 seasons in optimum weather at world class facilities while also giving fans unprecedented access to watch some of MLS’s and NWSL’s most decorated and popular players and teams in an intimate setting, along with unique fan experiences. 2026 marks the event’s biggest year to date with 12 MLS and 9 NWSL teams participating.