Ted Lasso Returns To Apple TV With Bold New Season

For fans of optimism, shortbread, and the beautiful game, the wait is nearly over: Ted Lasso is officially returning for a fourth season in the summer of 2026, Apple TV has confirmed. The news comes after months of speculation and mounting anticipation, with Apple finally unveiling new production images and confirming the return of its beloved cast alongside some intriguing fresh faces. With filming underway in England and Kansas City, Missouri, the show’s creative team is promising a bold new chapter—one that’s bound to surprise even the most die-hard Greyhounds supporters.

The story this time? Ted Lasso—portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, who also co-created the series—returns to Richmond, but with a twist. Instead of leading the men’s team, Ted takes on what Apple TV calls his “biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women’s football team.” According to the official logline, “Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.” It’s a pivot that was first teased in the Season 3 finale, when Keeley (Juno Temple) floated the idea of a women’s team to club owner Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham). Back then, fans wondered if it might become a spin-off. Now, it’s at the heart of the show’s main storyline.

Season 4’s plot development isn’t just a gimmick. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the writers are leaning into the new dynamic, using the women’s team as a fresh canvas for the show’s signature blend of humor, heart, and underdog triumphs. “Ted and the team leap before they look,” the official summary repeats, hinting at both comedic misadventures and emotional growth. The show’s tradition of tackling mental health, teamwork, and resilience is expected to continue—albeit with new players and challenges.

Of course, Ted Lasso wouldn’t be the same without its core ensemble. Sudeikis is back as the endlessly optimistic coach, joined by returning stars Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca), Juno Temple (Keeley), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard), Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins), and Annette Badland (pub owner Mae). According to Mashable, fans can also expect the return of Ted’s son Henry, now played by Grant Feely, who appears in new production stills alongside Sudeikis and Badland at the Crown & Anchor pub.

But that’s not all. The new season welcomes a vibrant roster of talent, presumably as members of the women’s team and their support staff. Among the newcomers are Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsey (noted for her roles in Game of Thrones and Andor), Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern, and Grant Feely. Their addition signals a revitalization of the series, introducing new personalities and storylines while maintaining the chemistry that made Ted Lasso a global sensation.

Behind the scenes, the creative team remains as impressive and tightly knit as ever. Brett Goldstein continues to serve as both a writer and executive producer, joined by Leann Bowen in the writers’ room. Sarah Walker and Phoebe Walsh are also on board as writers and producers, while Julia Lindon contributes as a writer and Dylan Marron steps in as story editor. Sasha Garron is co-producing. Notably, Jack Burditt—an Emmy winner recognized for his work on 30 Rock, Modern Family, and Nobody Wants This—joins as executive producer under a new overall deal with Apple TV. The series is also shepherded by executive producers Jane Becker, Jamie Lee, Bill Wrubel, and Bill Lawrence, with Doozer Productions’ Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

The journey to this fourth season has been anything but straightforward. As detailed by Variety and Mashable, the show’s third season—aired in May 2023—was widely believed to be its last. The finale saw Ted departing AFC Richmond to return to the U.S. and be closer to his son and ex-wife (played by Andrea Anders). Yet, the series’ runaway popularity and continued dominance on Apple TV’s most-watched lists kept hope alive. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly advocated for the show’s return, and by March 2025, Sudeikis and Apple TV confirmed that the story would continue.

Since its debut on August 14, 2020, Ted Lasso has become a cultural phenomenon. The series, which originated from a character in NBC Sports sketches, quickly evolved from a quirky underdog story into a critical darling. It racked up an astonishing 61 Emmy nominations and claimed 13 wins, including back-to-back victories for Outstanding Comedy Series in its first two seasons. According to Deadline, the show’s blend of “charm and niceness” propelled it to the top of streaming charts, with Nielsen consistently ranking it among the year’s most-watched original programs—even after the supposed series finale.

The show’s ability to reinvent itself is part of its enduring appeal. While Season 3 faced some critical headwinds and didn’t repeat its earlier Emmy sweep, the decision to shift focus to a women’s team feels both timely and refreshing. The world of women’s football is enjoying unprecedented global attention, with record-breaking crowds and increasing investment at every level. By placing Ted at the helm of a new team, the writers have opened the door to a wealth of new stories—both on and off the pitch.

Production for Season 4 began in the summer of 2025, with scenes filmed in London and Kansas City, Missouri—the hometown of both Sudeikis and his fictional alter ego. Apple TV has yet to announce a specific premiere date beyond the summer 2026 window, but the release of first-look images has only heightened anticipation. As AppleInsider noted, the show’s return is “the worst-kept secret in television”—a testament to both its passionate fanbase and its central role in Apple TV’s streaming strategy.

So what can viewers expect when Ted Lasso finally returns? More of the same, but different: the warmth, wit, and wisdom that made the show a hit, now filtered through the eyes of a new team and new challenges. The stakes are higher, the field is different, but the heart of the series remains intact. As the official tagline puts it, “Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.” If the past is any guide, those leaps are bound to be both hilarious and heartfelt.

With a blend of old favorites and fresh faces, the upcoming season promises to honor the legacy of AFC Richmond while forging new ground in the world of women’s football. For now, fans will have to content themselves with teaser images and the knowledge that, come summer 2026, Ted Lasso will once again be rallying the troops—one biscuit at a time.