Soccer
Perhaps you’re wondering when, where and how to watch English-language coverage of the 2018 World Cup.
It’s scheduled to begin with host Russia taking on Saudi Arabia on Thursday, which is President Donald Trump’s birthday and Flag Day here in the United States.
Like the July 15 title game, the opener will air live from Moscow at 10 a.m. on Fox-32.
It doesn’t. The United States failed to qualify.
No. That World Cup is roughly a year off. This is the men’s version.
Fox reportedly is paying FIFA more than $400 million for World Cup rights through 2022. It bid in 2011, long before it knew the United States wouldn’t make the cut for Russia. ESPN paid $100 million for the previous two, per a 2005 deal.
That’s the $400 million question for Fox. People certainly play it in the United States. But to paraphrase an old line, soccer may be like sex in that most people find it more fun to take part in than to watch. One sure thing is Fox can’t play the jingoism card and wrap its coverage in the American flag, seeing as how Americans are relegated to the audience.
Nope. Italy also failed to qualify. Ditto for Chile and the Netherlands. On the plus side, Iceland is in.
Glad you mentioned that. Anheuser-Busch, which for a time rebranded its signature Budweiser beer “America,” has launched a promotion linked to its “Dilly Dilly” campaign for “soccer fans from the lands of California” in which King John Barley IV promises to help “ye pay for thy celebratory Bud Lights” should Mexico reach the quarterfinals.
Not at all. The plan is to put 38 of 64 matches on broadcast TV, and the remaining 26 will run on cable’s Fox Sports 1.
For an English-language U.S. network, 38 is the most ever. There haven’t been that many matches on an over-the-air outlet in the last four World Cups combined.
Nope. The 2018 World Cup will be a breakfast-to-brunch affair here in the United States. Partly because of the time difference — Russia’s venues are between seven and 10 hours ahead of Chicago — matches will run here between dawn and mid-afternoon.
All 64 games will be streamed live via Fox Sports Go and Fox Soccer Match Pass.
Telemundo bid $600 million in 2011 to wrest Spanish-language rights for the ’18 and ’22 World Cups from Univision, a testimonial to interest in the World Cup among Spanish-speakers.
Through the first weekend, here are three to circle: Portugal vs. Spain (Group B) in Sochi at 1 p.m. Friday on Fox-32; Argentina vs. Iceland (Group D) in Moscow at 9 a.m. Saturday on Fox-32; and Germany vs. Mexico (Group F) in Moscow at 10 a.m. Sunday on FS1.
Expenses will be spared. Without the United States in contention, Fox reconsidered how many people it would send to Russia. If you’re watching a match on Fox or FS1 called by anybody but John Strong and Stu Holden or J.P. Dellacamera and Tony Meola, they’re sitting in a booth in Los Angeles watching TV like you are.
It might if something is going on that the cameras aren’t showing, like a player limping. By the quarterfinals, all the games will be called by announcers on-site. What will be more noticeable is the voices will lack the British accents fans got accustomed to on ESPN. Fox has put a lot of Americans to work, giving its coverage a more distinct sound.
Probably. The possible expansion to 48 nations from the current 32 can’t hurt.
Try 2030. FIFA extended the U.S. rights deals through 2026 for Fox and Telemundo in 2015, apparently without opening the bidding process. Financial terms weren’t announced at the time, and it’s believed this was to make everyone amenable to possibly moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter, when temperatures are less oppressive.
Brazil and defending champion Germany are said to be the favorites, followed by Spain, France, Argentina and Belgium. The longest of long shots reportedly are Panama and Saudi Arabia.
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