Yes, it takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with such films as Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Incredible Hulk, and The Avengers, as well as the TV shows Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Agent Carter and Jessica Jones. As well as upcoming series Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.

The show also makes several references to the Avengers film. Such as "after new york was destroyed", or "unless he has a suit of iron or a magic hammer".

Ben Urich's office also contains framed newspaper covers featuring the events in The Incredible Hulk and The Avengers.

Stick enlists Matt's help to destroy "Black Sky," a weapon that the Japanese mafia, led by Fisk's associate Nobu, are bringing into New York. Matt agrees on the condition that Stick restrain himself from killing anyone, but Stick breaks his promise when it is revealed that Black Sky is a young boy being held in a shipping container with chains around his neck and limbs. Stick fails to kill Black Sky while at the docks with Matt, but later says he killed the boy further up the road. Stick does not go into detail but says that the boy was more than "just a boy" and that Matt would have sensed this had he not been emotional at the moment. Black Sky is not a term previously found Marvel Comics so there is no clear parallel to be found there at this time. What exactly the boy named Black Sky is and how exactly he is a weapon is not revealed as of the first season of Daredevil, and any fan theories are pure speculation. In season 2; Elektra is revealed to be the Black Sky. There has still been no confirmation on who or what the Black Sky actually is.

Season 1 has been confirmed to take place three years after The Battle of New York.