2026 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Apple TV. The streaming service has built out an impressive slate that spans returning favorites like Silo and Sugar to all-new hits including OnlyFans-inspired dramedies, terrifying comedies, and paranoid tech thrillers. But the most important release might be a feel-good sports sitcom.

Ted Lasso, returning with its fourth season, doubles as a soft reboot for the show. Mixing up familiar characters with a substantially new cast, it serves as a transitory moment before taking on a much more familiar feel.

The premiere almost feels like a different show at first. Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is working part-time at a grocery store in order to have more time to parent, and Rebecca, Keeley, and Higgins have come to Kansas City in an attempt to convince him to be the inaugural coach of the new team. This reunion episode helps viewers understand what has happened in that time but also drags out Ted’s inevitable decision to say “yes” across a full episode.

However, with its shift towards a more realistic depiction of women’s football and the introduction of a scrappy squad of up-and-coming players, season 4 manages to recapture much of what made the show such a success. The intense goalkeeper who refuses to wear gloves (Jude Mack), the mom who spontaneously decided to attend an open tryout (Faye Marsay), and the star striker balancing her athletic career with getting a law degree (Abbie Hern) provide plenty of opportunities for Ted to learn and impart his folksy wisdom.

Recapturing the exact magic that made Ted Lasso's early seasons such a phenomenon is probably impossible, but its importance for Apple hasn't diminished. A controversial yet very successful men’s World Cup has reignited interest in the sport (particularly in the US), while the next women’s World Cup looms on the horizon. These seem like prime circumstances for an impactful return for Ted and friends.