It was announced on Tuesday that MLS and beIN SPORTS have reached a deal to broadcast MLS matches in Southeast Asia and Australia. The agreement will run from 2015 until the end of the 2018 MLS season. At least two MLS regular season games will be air each week during the agreement.

Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines and Thailand are the countries that are part of the three year agreement. The MLS All-Star game will also be shown as well as all MLS Cup Playoff including MLS Cup. They will also carry two matches on “Decision Day” and show highlights, player features and other MLS content.

“This groundbreaking partnership with beIN SPORTS creates a new platform to increase MLS’ exposure across the region,” Gary Stevenson, president and managing director of MLS Business Ventures, said in a statement. “We are excited to have such a strong brand showcasing MLS games in Asia and Australia.”

“beIN SPORTS philosophy is to ensure that we showcase the best premium sports on our channels globally," said Yousef Al-Obaidliy, CEO, beIN SPORTS APAC. "Through this partnership with MLS we are enabling sports fans in the Asia Pacific region to watch another very exciting league."

Recently the league has entered into other agreements across the world. They have joined Globosat in Brazil, Sky Sports in the UK, Letv Sports in China, Abu Dhabi Media in the Middle East and North Africa, and pan-European broadcaster Eurosport.

It is good to see MLS getting agreements across the world and they are for at least a few years unlike NWSL.  Don Garber is trying to make MLS a global power and become one of the top leagues in the world within the next five years.

Many across the world consider MLS as a retirement league. With these additional countries being able to watch the league, they will see that MLS is more than a retirement league and that it truly has some up and coming players at the moment. With the addition of new teams and keeping players in the U.S., MLS can be on the way of being one of the best in the world. Just not sure it will happen by 2020.