Soccer on Fox Sports
Fox currently airs association football matches in the United States. These matches are from the FIFA World Cup, the Gold Cup, MLS, and the Liga MX. Fox formerly aired the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, the Serie A, and the FA Cup.
Soccer on Fox Sports | |
---|---|
Also known as | MLS on Fox |
Genre | Soccer telecasts |
Presented by | Rob Stone |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 3+ hours (or until game ends) |
Production company | Fox Sports |
Release | |
Original network | Fox Fox Sports Networks Fox Sports 1 |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV), 720p (HDTV) |
External links | |
Website |
Current contracts
FIFA
On October 22, 2011, FIFA awarded English-language rights to its tournaments to Fox from 2015 through 2022, including the including the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2015 (which would mark Fox's first professional FIFA tournament broadcast) and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, replacing ESPN. In February 2015, the contract was extended to 2026, in what was reported to be compensation for the re-scheduling of the 2022 World Cup to late-November/mid-December (which conflicts with the regular seasons of most major U.S. leagues, including the NFL) due to the climate of the host country.[1][2]
CONCACAF
Fox exclusively airing most of CONCACAF Clubs and Nations Championship until 2022, including Gold Cup, Champions League, and both Men's and Women's Olympic Qualifying tournament. Fox also airing the US matches in the Nations League, shared with ESPN as part of their MLS deal.
MLS
Fox airs weekly Major League Soccer (MLS) matches on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Rob Stone hosts in the studio alongside studio analysts Alexi Lalas and Maurice Edu. John Strong and Stuart Holden call the weekly game from site. (See Major League Soccer on television.)
Multiple Fox Sports Networks also hold rights to local MLS clubs.
USMNT/USWNT
Through their MLS deal, Fox shares the right to USMNT and USWNT matches with ESPN. John Strong and Stuart Holden are the main USMNT commentators with studio coverage hosted by Rob Stone alongside analysts Alexi Lalas and Maurice Edu. USWNT commentators are JP Dellacamera with analyst Aly Wagner and studio coverage hosted by Rob Stone, Sara Walsh, or Jenny Taft with analysts Leslie Osborne, Heather O'Reilly and Alexi Lalas.
Liga MX
In May 2018, Fox Sports acquired the rights to Tijuana, Monterrey, and Santos home matches. These matches started airing across Fox Sports in late July 2018, with the exception of Santos matches which will begin in 2019. Matches are broadcast on FS1, FS2, and the Fox Sports regional networks in the Western U.S.
Canadian Premier League
In August 2020, Fox Sports became the first American broadcast partner of the Canadian Premier League.[3]
Former rights
Bundesliga
Fox aired the Bundesliga since 2015 and aired all 306 league games and relegation playoffs via FS1, FS2, and Fox Soccer Plus. The pre-game and halftime show is hosted by Ian Joy or Kate Abdo, and two pundits (rotation).[4] The lead commentator was Keith Costigan. The 2019-20 season will be the networks' last broadcasting the Bundesliga as ESPN picked up the rights.
DFL-Supercup
Fox has aired the German DFL-Supercup since 2015 and only airs select tournament matches.[5]
Premier League
Fox Soccer aired the English Premier League from 2000-2013. In the later years of their coverage, Fox had a studio pregame show first hosted by Christian Miles until 2011, then by Rob Stone. Studio analysts were Warren Barton, Eric Wynalda, and Keith Costigan. Commentary was provided by former corporate sibling Sky Sports.
FA Cup
Fox previously aired the English FA Cup since 2014, until their rights expired in 2018. ESPN has since acquired these rights. FA Cup coverage was hosted by Rob Stone or Kate Abdo alongside a rotation of analysts including Warren Barton, Alexi Lalas, and Mario Melchiot. Lead world feed broadcast team for FA Cup was Martin Tyler and Stewart Robson.
UEFA Champions League and Europa League
Fox formerly aired the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League from 2011–2018.[6] Rob Stone hosted UEFA Champions League coverage alongside a rotation of analysts including Warren Barton, Brad Friedel, Eric Wynalda, Stuart Holden, and Alexi Lalas. Lead broadcast team for non World-Feed broadcasts of UEFA Champions League from 2013–2014 was Gus Johnson and Eric Wynalda, until John Strong and Stuart Holden or Brad Friedel replaced them as lead commentator for the rest of the contract. Ian Joy or Kate Abdo hosted UEFA Europa League coverage alongside analysts Stuart Holden, Warren Barton, and Mario Melchiot. Lead broadcast team for Europa League coverage was Keith Costigan and Alexi Lalas. For World-Feed broadcasts, Tony Jones and David Pleat call both UEFA Champions League Final and UEFA Europa League Final.
On-air staff
Regular season
Presenters
Name | Nationality | Coverage |
---|---|---|
Rob Stone | Lead MLS, United States men's national soccer team games, and international matches studio host | |
Sara Walsh | International matches and MLS studio host |
Studio analysts
Name | Nationality | Coverage |
---|---|---|
Alexi Lalas | Lead MLS and international matches studio analyst | |
Warren Barton | International matches color commentator/studio analyst | |
Maurice Edu | MLS | |
Heather O'Reilly | Women's international matches studio analyst | |
Leslie Osborne | Women's international matches studio analyst | |
Joe Machnik | International matches rules analyst |
Play-by-play announcers:
Name | Nationality | Coverage |
---|---|---|
John Strong | Lead MLS, United States men's national soccer team, and international play-by-play announcer | |
JP Dellacamera | MLS #2, lead United States women's national soccer team play-by-play announcer, and international matches | |
Glenn Davis | International matches | |
Mark Followill | MLS #3 and international Matches | |
Keith Costigan | MLS #4 and Liga MX play-by-play announcer | |
Mark Rogondino | MLS fill-in play-by-play announcer | |
Jake Zivin | MLS fill-in play-by-play announcer | |
Adrian Garcia-Marquez | Liga MX play-by-play announcer | |
Jenn Hildreth | Women's international matches | |
Lisa Byington | Women's international matches |
Color commentators
Name | Nationality | Coverage |
---|---|---|
Stuart Holden | Lead MLS, United States men's national soccer team, and international color commentator | |
Tony Meola | MLS and international color commentator | |
Cobi Jones | Liga MX color commentator | |
Warren Barton | International matches color commentator/studio analyst | |
Brad Evans | MLS match analyst | |
Brian Dunseth | MLS color commentator | |
Dan Kennedy | MLS color commentator | |
Aly Wagner | Lead USWNT color commentator | |
Kyndra de St. Aubin | Women's international matches | |
Danielle Slaton | Women's international matches | |
Angela Hucles | Women's international matches | |
Cat Whitehill | Women's international matches |
Reporters:
- Katie Witham, Danielle Slaton, Marisa Pilla, Jackie Montgomery, Alex Curry
References
- "FIFA grants Fox U.S. TV rights for World Cup through 2026". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- Longman, Jeré. "Fox and Telemundo Win U.S. Rights to 2018 and 2022 World Cups". Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league-semifinals-tv-schedule-20200818.html
- Phillip Quinn (October 14, 2014). "Fox Sports secures Bundesliga's USA television rights beginning 2015-2016". SBNation. Vox Media. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- "Bayern Munich-Dortmund German Supercup to be featured on FOX network". World Soccer Talk. July 21, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- "Turner's soccer shocker". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 2018-07-27.