Soccer on ESPN

Last updated
Soccer on ESPN
Genre Association football telecasts
Theme music composerLisle Moore
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time2+ hours (or until game ends)
Production company ESPN
Release
Original network ESPN
ABC
ESPN+
ESPN2
ESPNews
ESPNU
ESPN3
ESPN Classic
Picture format 480i (SDTV),
720p (HDTV)
External links
Website

Soccer on ESPN is a number of programs that currently airs Association football matches in the United States. These matches are from International, European, and American competitions. [1]

Contents

Current programming

National teams

ESPN airs matches from the A-team, youth, and junior European Soccer Championships, UEFA Nations League, UEFA qualifying competitions, and UEFA friendlies. These matches will be on all ESPN owned channels. [2] Friendlies or qualifiers are regularly commentated by play-by-play men Adrian Healey, Mark Donaldson, and Ross Dyer. Analysts include: Craig Burley, Kasey Keller, Paul Mariner, Matteo Bonetti, Alejandro Moreno, Matt Lawrence, and Janusz Michallik.

Higher profile matches are commentated by Jon Champion and Ian Darke with analysts Stewart Robson, Steve McManaman, and Taylor Twellman. Through their deal with the MLS, ESPN shares the rights for USMNT and USWNT friendlies and qualifiers with Fox Sports. For men's matches, Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman commentate with Kasey Keller as a fill-in game analyst or studio analyst on air.

The women's matches are commentated by Ian Darke or Sebastian Salazar alongside analyst Julie Foudy.

Clubs

International Champions Cup

ESPN airs summer friendly tournament International Champions Cup on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes.

United States

MLS

ESPN currently airs MLS matches on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 in a contract from 2015 to 2022. ABC will only air the MLS Cup in odd-numbered years since 2019. ESPN also airs all out-of-market games on ESPN+. Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman are the lead broadcast team. (See ESPN Major League Soccer ). [3]

USL

ESPN airs all matches from the USL on ESPN+ with select matches on ESPNews or ESPNU. [4] The games are produced by the USL, and commentary is provided by Mike Watts and Devon Kerr.

College Soccer

ESPN regularly airs college soccer on ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, and Longhorn Network. Jenn Hildreth is the lead commentator for women's soccer coverage. College soccer is also available on ESPN+ via school productions.

England

EFL

ESPN airs select matches from the EFL Championship, EFL League One, EFL League Two, and EFL Cup on paid streaming service ESPN+. This broadcast started in 2017. [5] The 2020 promotion playoff Final was hosted by Alexis Nunes alongside pundit Don Hutchison and guest Jack Harrison. The 2021 promotion playoff Final was presented by Dan Thomas alongside Shaka Hislop in the studio, Don Hutchison and Alexis Nunes onsite, and Jon Champion and Matt Lawrence commentating.

FA Cup

ESPN airs all matches from the FA Cup on paid streaming service ESPN+ with select matches on ESPN and ESPN2, as well as Community Shield (before the cup season stars). This broadcast started in 2018 when Fox Sports coverage of the tournament expired. [6] [7] In 2020, coverage of the final was hosted by Dan Thomas alongside Craig Burley, Don Hutchison, Shaka Hislop, and reporter Alexis Nunes. The final was commentated by Martin Tyler and Stewart Robson. For other rounds, ESPN airs a digital prematch show hosted by Kay Murray or Mark Donaldson alongside ESPN FC pundits.

Scotland

Scottish Professional Football League

ESPN acquires the rights of the Scottish Premiership started in October 2020. Every week, at least one match is airing on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. In addition, ESPN will also have coverage of select matches from the Scottish Championship, Scottish League Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup. Mark Donaldson and Steve Nicol commentate on high-profile matches.

Germany

Bundesliga

ESPN won the rights to the Bundesliga again starting with the 2020–21 season, as well as Supercup (before the league season starts). All matches will air on ESPN+ with at least four matches per year airing on the linear TV channels. [8] Last time, ESPN had previously aired the league last time until 2011–12. Linear TV matches are preceded by a 30-minute prematch show as well as a digital prematch show with postmatch coverage on ESPN+. Derek Rae and Taylor Twellman commentate on matches on linear television while the ESPN+ matches are commentated by world feed. Studio coverage is hosted by Kay Murray on TV an Dan Thomas on digital alongside Jan Aage Fjortoft, Craig Burley, Kasey Keller, Jurgen Klinsmann, Steve Cherundolo, and reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt. ESPN also broadcasts the second-tier competition, the 2. Bundesliga. Every week, at least one match is broadcast on ESPN+, with Ross Dyer and Jonathan Yardley serving as commentators. The Bundesliga on ABC debuted in 2021 with Bayern vs BVB. Rae and Twellman commentated on the match while Kay Murray hosted in studio alongside Twellman and Klinsmann.

DFB-Pokal

ESPN also air the German domestic cup, the DFB Pokal. [9] Matches usually air on ESPNews and ESPN2. Linear TV commentary is provided by Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman.

Netherlands

Eredivisie

In 2018, ESPN has reached a multi-year media agreement for airing Dutch Eredivisie. Every week, ESPN+ airing four matches in English and some matches are available in Spanish. [10]

Italy

Serie A

In 2018, ESPN won the rights for Italy's Serie A when beIN Sports' contract expired. ESPN is set to air over 340 matches each season, with a Game of the Week on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNews and the rest of the matches on streaming service ESPN+. There is also a weekly preview and highlight show on ESPN+. [11] ESPN uses its own broadcast teams for games shown on television - commentary is provided by play-by-play Mark Donaldson and analyst Matteo Bonetti - with all other matches each week shown on ESPN+. Ross Dyer and Steve Cangialosi fill-in when Donaldson is working MLB. Janusz Michallik works as the secondary game analyst. Commentary for matches on ESPN+ is taken from the World Feed. ESPN FC provides viewers with Serie A analysis show The Serie Awesome Podcast with Italian football writers Gabriele Marcotti, Mina Rzouki, and James Horncastle.

The rights package also including both Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana tournaments. ESPN airs twenty-four matches of Coppa Italia, beginning from Round of 16 through two-leg semifinals on ESPN+. Meanwhile, the Coppa Italia Final and the Supercoppa Italiana will air on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNews also on ESPN Deportes. This broadcast started in January 2019.

Spain

La Liga

ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ are set to begin coverage of La Liga for the 2021–22 season. Further details are to be determined.

RFEF

ESPN is currently aired both Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España tournaments through 2022.

Other soccer rights acquired by ESPN

Former programming

World Cup finals

ESPN formerly held the rights to the FIFA World Cup in 1986 and between 1994 and 2014. Commentary teams are listed below

North American Soccer League

In the last few years of its existence, the NASL did manage to get some games on a new cable sports network that had begun in 1979 called ESPN. In 1981, they signed a contract to broadcast 20 games on Saturdays. The new USA Network also carried games, usually on Wednesday [12] nights.

Major Indoor Soccer League

The MISL landed a steady national TV contract for the first time since 1983 when they were on USA, as ESPN would televise 15 regular-season games on Sunday afternoons, the All-Star Game [13] and assorted playoff games. [14] beginning in the 1985–86 season. The MISL received no broadcast revenues from ESPN. In other words, the agreement with ESPN to had the league pay the cable network to televise its games. Bill Kentling, director and general manager of the Wichita Wings, was vehemently against the ESPN deal, [15] thinking that was ridiculous to go against the National Football League without having any time to set up sponsorship. Commissioner Frank Dale however, disagreed with Kentling's assessment saying: “If I held out waiting for money for the rights for something that has traditionally not done well in the ratings, we'd still be off the air.” Ultimately, the MISL got only three sponsors [16] for the weekly telecasts on ESPN.

For the 1986–87 season, ESPN actually paid the MISL a fee [17] instead of the league paying the network, as it had done the previous season. This time, ESPN would broadcast 18 games, including the All-Star Game from Los Angeles, as well as four playoff games. The San Diego Sockers were scheduled be on four delayed telecasts during the regular season.

On commentary, ESPN employed JP Dellacamera, [18] Bob Kurtz, Bob Ley, and Bob Carpenter on play-by-play with Ty Keough, Seamus Malin, and Shep Messing as analysts.

National Professional Soccer League

Starting with the 1993–94 season, NPSL games would be broadcast on both ESPN [19] and the then brand new ESPN2, [20] giving national exposure to the league. [21] As part of a three-year agreement, a Game of the Week (dubbed Balls of Fire) would be televised on ESPN2 on Friday [22] nights. ESPN2 would carry as many as 20 games [23] in 1993–94 and 24 [24] in 1994–95. [25] Meanwhile, the best-of-five playoff finals in late April and the NPSL All-Star Game at St. Louis on February 22 would be carried on ESPN. It was routine however for ESPN to heavily edit rebroadcast of games that were initially aired on ESPN2 fit it into a two-hour time slot.

Dave Johnson and Art Kramer were ESPN's initial primary broadcast team. Other commentators included Gregg Mace [26] and Ed Vucinic, [27] who by 1995–96, would provide play-by-play for the NPSL Championship Series alongside Art Kramer.

UEFA Champions League

ESPN formerly had the rights of the UEFA Champions League between 1995 and 2009. Lead commentary team was Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth with the ESPN2 team being Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe. The pre-match programme was hosted by Andrew Orsatti.

Premier League

ESPN2 formerly aired matches from the Premier League between 1996 and 1998, [28] [29] and the from 2010 to 2013. From 2010 to 2013, ESPN2 had its own commentary team live in England. Ian Darke and Steve McManaman called the action live in England, with Darrell Currie, Dave Beckett, or Alicia Ferguson reporting pitchside. On occasion, the network would simulcast ESPN UK's coverage with full studio coverage from host Ray Stubbs or Rebecca Lowe and commentary from Jon Champion and Chris Waddle. In the U.S., ESPN's studio team was host Andrew Orsatti or Georgie Bingham with analyst Robbie Mustoe.

On-air personalities

Commentators

NameNationalityCoverageNotes
Ian Darke Flag of England.svg International Matches
United States men's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
Lead play-by-play announcer
Jon Champion Flag of England.svg MLS
International Matches
FA Cup
MLS lead play-by-play announcer
Derek Rae Flag of Scotland.svg Bundesliga
International Matches
Bundesliga lead play-by-play announcer
Glenn Davis Flag of the United States.svg MLS
United States women's national soccer team
College Soccer
Mark Donaldson Flag of Scotland.svg Serie A
International Matches
Serie A lead play-by-play announcer
Fernando Palomo Flag of Mexico.svg International Matches
Mexico men's national football team
Mexico women's national football team
Steve Cangialosi Flag of the United States.svg MLS
Serie A
Jenn Hildreth Flag of the United States.svg College SoccerWomen's College Soccer lead play-by-play announcer
Ross Dyer Flag of England.svg International Matches
Serie A
2. Bundesliga
Jonathan Yardley Flag of the United States.svg MLS
International Matches
College Soccer
2. Bundesliga
Mike Watts Flag of the United States.svg USL
College Soccer
USL lead play-by-play announcer
Sebastian Salazar Flag of the United States.svg United States women's national soccer team

Color commentators

NameNationalityCoverageNotes
Steve McManaman Flag of England.svg International Matches
ESPN FC
Lead color commentator
Taylor Twellman Flag of the United States.svg MLS
Bundesliga
USMNT
International Matches
MLS, USMNT, and Bundesliga lead color commentator
Kasey Keller Flag of the United States.svg MLS
International Matches
DFB-Pokal
Bundesliga
Craig Burley Flag of Scotland.svg International Matches
FA Cup
Stewart Robson Flag of England.svg International Matches
Matt Lawrence Flag of England.svg International Matches
Alejandro Moreno Flag of Venezuela.svg MLS
International Matches
Julie Foudy Flag of the United States.svg MLS
USWNT
Lead USWNT color commentator
Brian Dunseth Flag of the United States.svg MLS MLS color commentator
Paul Mariner Flag of England.svg International Matches
Matteo Bonetti Flag of Italy.svg International Matches
Serie A
Serie A lead color commentator
Janusz Michallik Flag of Poland.svg International Matches
Serie A
Devon Kerr Flag of the United States.svg USL
College Soccer
USL lead color commentator
Charlie Davies Flag of the United States.svg College SoccerMen's lead color commentator
Angela Hucles Flag of the United States.svg College SoccerACC lead color commentator
Lori Lindsey Flag of the United States.svg College Soccer
Cat Whitehill Flag of the United States.svg College SoccerSEC lead color commentator

Presenters

NameNationalityCoverageNotes
Rece Davis Flag of the United States.svg International MatchesLead International host
Kelly Cates Flag of Scotland.svg International MatchesInternational host
Dalen Cuff Flag of the United States.svg International MatchesInternational host
Dan Thomas Flag of England.svg ESPN FC
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Bundesliga
Lead ESPN FC Studio host
Sebastian Salazar Flag of the United States.svg MLS
ESPN FC
Kay Murray Flag of England.svg ESPN FC
International Matches
Bundesliga
Mark Donaldson Flag of Scotland.svg ESPN FC Digital
Ross Dyer Flag of England.svg ESPN FC Digital
Alexis Nunes Flag of Jamaica.svg ESPN FC Digital

Studio analyst

NameNationalityCoverageNotes
Steve McManaman Flag of England.svg International Matches
ESPN FC
Lead Color commentator
Taylor Twellman Flag of the United States.svg MLS
International Matches
ESPN FC
MLS lead Color commentator
Kasey Keller Flag of the United States.svg MLS
International Matches
Bundesliga
MLS lead studio analyst
Craig Burley Flag of Scotland.svg International Matches
ESPN FC
Bundesliga
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Jan Aage Fjortoft Flag of Norway.svg Bundesliga
ESPN FC
Michael Ballack Flag of Germany.svg International Matches
Jürgen Klinsmann Flag of Germany.svg Bundesliga
ESPN FC
Julien Laurens Flag of France.svg ESPN FC Writer
Don Hutchison Flag of Scotland.svg ESPN FC
International Matches
EFL Cup
FA Cup
EFL Championship
Gabriele Marcotti Flag of Italy.svg ESPN FC Writer
James Horncastle Flag of England.svg ESPN FC Writer
Mina Rzouki Flag of England.svg ESPN FC Writer
Frank Leboeuf Flag of France.svg ESPN FC
International Matches
Mark Ogden Flag of England.svg ESPN FC Writer
Santiago Solari Flag of Argentina.svg ESPN FC
International Matches
Peter Walton Flag of England.svg International Matches
ESPN FC
Rules Analyst
Alejandro Moreno Flag of Venezuela.svg MLS
ESPN FC
MLS lead studio analyst
Steve Nicol Flag of Scotland.svg ESPN FC
Janusz Michallik Flag of Poland.svg ESPN FC
Shaka Hislop Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg ESPN FC
Herculez Gomez Flag of the United States.svg MLS
ESPN FC
MLS studio analyst
Steve Cherundolo Flag of the United States.svg Bundesliga
Alessandro Del Piero Flag of Italy.svg ESPN FC [30]

Past international coverage and broadcast teams

FIFA World Cup

1970 World Cup

This was the first World Cup on ABC featuring commentary from legendary broadcaster Jim McKay.

1982 World Cup

Coverage was led by Bob Ley alongside analyst Seamus Malin. For the final on ABC, Jim McKay, Mario Machado, and Paul Gardner called that game between Italy and West Germany at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. [31] [32] (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

1986 World Cup

JP Dellacamera was the play-by-play announcer alongside color commentators Seamus Malin and Shep Messing. Remaining matches were called by the World Feed. (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

1994 World Cup

The 1994 World Cup marked the return of the World Cup on ESPN and ABC and the first time they used their own commentary teams for all matches. Roger Twibell, Seamus Malin, and Rick Davis were the network's lead broadcast team. Al Trautwig and Rick Davis were the secondary broadcast team. [33] [34] [35] Other play-by-play announcers were: Bob Carpenter Bob Ley, Ian Darke, Randy Hahn, and Jim Donovan. [34] [35] Other color commentators were: Clive Charles, Ty Keough, Peter Vermes, Ron Newman, and Bill McDermott. Jim McKay was the studio host alongside studio analyst Desmond Armstrong. (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

1998 World Cup

Bob Ley and Seamus Malin was the lead broadcast team with four other broadcast teams include: Roger Twibell and Mike Hill, JP Dellacamera and Bill McDermott, Derek Rae and Ty Keough, and Phil Schoen and Tommy Smyth. Brent Musburger and Eric Wynalda worked in the studio for ABC while Phil Schoen and Dave Revsine hosted "World Cup2Night" on ESPN2 with analysts Julie Foudy, Keough, Smyth, and Jim St. Andre. [36] [37] [38] (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

2002 World Cup

Hockey play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards and color commentator Ty Keough led the commentary teams in South Korea and Japan. [39] [40] Three other broadcast teams called games in Bristol, Connecticut were: JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth, Glenn Davis and Shep Messing, and Mike Hill and Shep Messing, and Seamus Malin. Terry Gannon hosted in the studio alongside studio analysts Eric Wynalda and Giorgio Chinaglia. (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

2006 World Cup

Lead MLS and MLB play-by-play announcer Dave O'Brien and color commentator Marcelo Balboa worked as the lead broadcast team in Germany with other broadcast teams: JP Dellacamera and John Harkes, Glenn Davis and Shep Messing, Adrian Healey and Tommy Smyth, and Rob Stone and Robin Fraser. Brent Musburger returned for his 2nd World Cup as lead studio host with other hosts Rece Davis, and Dave Revsine. Studio analysts in the studio were: Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda, Julie Foudy, and Heather Mitts. (See List of FIFA World Cup broadcasters)

2010 World Cup

ESPN's coverage of the 2010 World Cup has been widely recognized as a breakthrough in US soccer broadcasting. [41] Esteemed commentator Martin Tyler led a team of all-British commentators in South Africa, Chris Fowler and Mike Tirico were the lead hosts in a studio set right outside of Soccer City in South Africa. Martin Tyler, who called England games, worked with Efan Ekoku as the network's lead broadcast team. Ian Darke and John Harkes, who called USMNT games were named the #2 broadcast teams. Other broadcast teams were: Derek Rae and Robbie Mustoe, Adrian Healey and Ally McCoist, and Jim Proudfoot and Roberto Martínez. Studio analysts included: Steve McManaman, Jürgen Klinsmann, Martínez, Ruud Gullit, Alexi Lalas, Shaun Bartlett, and Tommy Smyth. Bob Ley was another studio host, working his 4th World Cup. Reporters were: Jeremy Schaap (USA and Final), Julie Foudy, Allen Hopkins, Rob Stone, Selema Masekela, Andrew Orsatti (Australia), John Sutcliffe (Mexico), and Dan Williams [42] (South Africa). [43]

2014 World Cup

The 2014 World Cup marked the end of the FIFA World Cup on ABC and ESPN. Ian Darke and Steve McManaman were the lead broadcast team, Jon Champion and Stewart Robson were the #2 team. Other play-by-play announcers were: Derek Rae, Daniel Mann, Adrian Healey and Fernando Palomo. Color commentators: Taylor Twellman, Craig Burley, Efan Ekoku, Roberto Martínez, Kasey Keller and Alejandro Moreno. All commentators were in Brazil with the top 5 teams at the stadiums while the remaining team called matches off monitors in Rio. Mike Tirico was the lead studio host alongside other hosts Bob Ley and Lynsey Hipgrave with analysts: Alexi Lalas, McManaman, Michael Ballack, Moreno, Keller, Gilberto Silva, Santiago Solari, Martínez, Twellman, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Reporters included: Jeremy Schaap (Lead), Julie Foudy, Bob Woodruff, John Sutcliffe, Rubens Pozzi. [44]

UEFA European Football Championship

Euro 2008

Following controversy over ESPN's "American" commentary teams, the network decided to use more traditional coverage by tapping Adrian Healey and Andy Gray or Robbie Mustoe to be its lead broadcast team. ESPN also tapped Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth to be its secondary broadcast team. [45] [46] The studio team featured hosts Rece Davis and Rob Stone with analysts Julie Foudy and Alexi Lalas. [47] [48]

Euro 2012

Ian Darke and Steve McManaman were the lead commentary team for ESPN. The studio team was based at headquarters in Bristol. Studio hosts were Bob Ley, Max Bretos, and Rebecca Lowe. Other broadcast teams were: Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe and Derek Rae and Kasey Keller or Taylor Twellman. Studio analysts were: Michael Ballack, Alexi Lalas, Keller, Twellman, and Tommy Smyth. Special contributors, who were live from Poland and Ukraine, were Glenn Hoddle and Roberto Martínez. Reporters included are: Alicia Ferguson and Darrell Currie. [49] [50]

Euro 2016

ESPN was live in France with a set on the River Seine. Mike Tirico, Steve Bower, and Bob Ley hosted. Ian Darke, Steve McManaman, and Taylor Twellman returned as the lead broadcast team. Jon Champion and Stewart Robson were the #2 broadcast team. The top two broadcast teams called the games on-site from that country. [51] [52] [53] Other play-by-play announcers who called from the network monitors in Bristol, Connecticut were: Derek Rae, Adrian Healey, Mark Donaldson , and Max Bretos. Other color commentators who called from the network monitors in Bristol were: Tommy Smyth, Alejandro Moreno, Kate Markgraf, [54] and Paul Mariner. Studio analysts were: Craig Burley, Santiago Solari, Vincent Kompany, who was ruled out of that tournament with a serious injury, [55] [56] McManaman, Twellman, Julie Foudy, Roberto Martínez, Frank Leboeuf, Michael Ballack, and Kasey Keller. Jeremy Schaap, Marty Smith, and Alison Bender were reporters.

Euro 2020

Euro 2020 is set to be broadcast live by ABC (5 matches), ESPN (40 matches including Final), and ESPN2 (6 matches). This is the first time since 2008 that ABC broadcast the European Championships free-to-air. [57] [58] Rece Davis [59] [60] [61] will be the lead host alongside Kelly Cates, Sebastian Salazar, Kay Murray and Dalen Cuff. Ian Darke and Stewart Robson are the lead broadcast team, calling some of 8 games at Wembley Stadium in London. Other broadcast teams are: Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman, Derek Rae and Efan Ekoku, Steve Cangialosi and Alejandro Moreno, and Mark Donaldson and Matteo Bonetti. Studio analysts were: Steve McManaman, Alessandro Del Piero, Julie Foudy, Tim Howard, Chris Coleman, Nedum Onuoha, Kasey Keller, and Craig Burley. Former referee Mark Clattenburg will work as rules analyst. Reporters included: Sam Borden, Martin Ainstein, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Alexis Nunes. [62] [63]

Confederations Cup

2009 Confederations Cup

Rece Davis and Alexi Lalas worked in the studio during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. ESPN tapped MLS on ESPN's lead broadcast team of JP Dellacamera and John Harkes to be its lead broadcast team, Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth to be its #2 broadcast team, and Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe to be its #3 broadcast team. [64] [65]

2013 Confederations Cup

Bob Ley hosted in the studio alongside analysts Steve McManaman, Alexi Lalas, Roberto Martínez, and Michael Ballack. Ian Darke and Stewart Robson was the lead broadcast team. Other broadcast teams were: Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno and Adrian Healey and Kasey Keller. [66]

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