Both ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel will televise the historic announcement of the location of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. The decision will be handed down live from FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on Dec. 2.
The United States is bidding against Qatar, Australia, Japan, and Korea Republic for the right to host the latter tournament.
FSC plans to have coverage the day before as well as a one-hour Decision Day 2022: A Fox Soccer Report Special on the second. Curt Menefee will anchor the coverage while Eric Wynalda, Cobi Jones, and Alan Rothenberg provide analysis.
In other World Cup 2022 news, the American Bid Committee is putting the full court press on FIFA, recruiting Bill Clinton to pen an editorial in Sports Illustrated detailing why the tournament should come to the US.
The FSC release is after the jump.
Los Angeles (November 23, 2010) – Fox Soccer Channel, an Official Partner of the USA Bid Committee, and FOX Deportes, the nation’s leading Hispanic sports brand, today unveiled their extensive on-air and online coverage leading up to FIFA’s announcement of the 2018 and 2022 World Cupâ„¢ host nations on Thursday, Dec. 2.
Fox Soccer Channel offers a host of multi-media programming initiatives, culminating with Decision Day 2022: A Fox Soccer Report Special. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, this hour-long program brings viewers this historic announcement live from FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, along with interviews with leading figures in U.S. Soccer and fan reaction from viewing parties around the country. In addition, Decision Day 2022: A Fox Soccer Report Special features live Sky Sports News coverage of the latest developments in England, which is in contention to host the 2018 event.
On Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. ET, a 30-minute preview show – D-Day Minus 1 – is followed by Team USA: Journey to Glory, an in-depth look at the past, present and future of U.S. Soccer. Both programs repeat the morning of Dec. 2, immediately prior to Decision Day 2022: A Fox Soccer Report Special.
“As the nation’s leading soccer media brand, Fox Soccer Channel is honored to share this landmark moment in American sports history with our viewers, and support our ongoing partnership with the USA Bid Committee,” said David Nathanson, General Manager of Fox Soccer Channel.
Fox Soccer Channel has assembled an all-star talent team for Decision Day 2022: A Fox Soccer Report Special including:
· Curt Menefee: Host of FOX Sports’ 2010 UEFA Champions League Final coverage and FOX NFL SUNDAY.
· Eric Wynalda: A leading scorer in U.S. Soccer history and veteran of three FIFA World Cupsâ„¢, including 1994 where he tallied the Americans’ first goal of the tournament. Wynalda currently serves as host of Fox Soccer Channel’s UEFA Champions League coverage.
· Cobi Jones: Three-time World Cupâ„¢ veteran and member of the 1994 squad; America’s all-time leader in international caps.
· Alan Rothenberg: Former U.S. Soccer Federation President and architect of USA ’94.
FOX Deportes offers incisive interviews with high profile soccer personalities, all while keeping viewers up-to-date with around the clock information about the world’s most important soccer tournament and an in-depth analysis of FIFA’s final decision. Experts are on-hand to deliver coverage of the main event directly from Zurich, Switzerland, providing a detailed breakdown of the countries vying for the honor to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cupâ„¢.
FOX Deportes programming includes:
· A special airing of Diario Fox Sports on Thursday, December 2nd from 10 to 11 a.m. ET.
· Expert analysis and breakdown of all the countries vying for the title of host nation.
· Live coverage of the World Cup™ announcement from Zurich.
· Fan reaction from select U.S. cities.
· Interviews with high-profile soccer personalities.
“As the first name in Hispanic sports, FOX Deportes recognizes the significance of this decision and the potential impact it will have on the Hispanic community,” said Vincent Cordero, Executive Vice President & General Manager of FOX Deportes. “We are committed to providing our viewers with exciting coverage related to the most important sporting event in the world.”
The build-up to decision day begins today, Nov. 23, and continues with multi-platform coverage this week and next on both networks. Highlights include:
· Beginning Thursday, an on-screen graphic during all Fox Soccer Channel and FOX Deportes programming counting down the final week until FIFA’s announcement.
· A similar countdown clock on the homepages of www.FoxSoccer.com – where expert writers Ives Galarcep, Jamie Trecker and others will examine the FIFA bidding process and the prospects for hosting a second World Cupâ„¢ on American soil – as well as www.Foxdeportes.com
· Web-exclusive videos on www.Foxsoccer.com – as well as the network’s Facebook and Twitter portals – featuring Wynalda and former U.S. National Team member Kyle Martino, who take a personal look at the potential of another World Cupâ„¢ in the United States.
In June 2010, Fox Soccer Channel became the first Official Corporate Partner of the USA Bid Committee and its efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2022. In October, FOX Sports Media Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Hill formally accepted an invitation to join the Bid Committee’s Board of Directors. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati is Chairman and Carlos Cordeiro the Vice-Chairman, while the Bid Committee’s other high profile Board of Directors include: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, comedian Drew Carey, former boxer Oscar De La Hoya, American soccer stars Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm, actors Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, director Spike Lee and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. For more information on the Go USA Bid campaign, visit www.gobidusa.com.
About Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel, part of the Fox Sports Media Group, offers the most comprehensive coverage of world-class soccer available in the United States, serving as the primary television destination for coverage of England’s Barclays Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Matches from Major League Soccer, Italy’s Serie A, Women’s Professional Soccer, and the Australian Hyundai A-League are also featured prominently, in addition to such global tournaments as the English FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and CONCACAF Champions Leagueâ„¢. The Official Broadcast Partner of the United States Youth Soccer Association, Fox Soccer Channel also televises NCAA Division I college men’s and women’s soccer. The Nielsen-rated channel, available to service providers in high-definition, reaches more than 38 million cable and satellite households nationwide and is an official sponsor of the USA Bid Committee. For more information, visit America’s most visited online soccer destination at www.FoxSoccer.com.
About FOX Deportes
Reaching more than 18 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which almost 6 million are U.S. Hispanic, FOX Deportes is the leader in Spanish-language sports media. FOX Deportes features premier soccer programming with exclusive coverage of Fútbol Liga Mexicana, Barclays Premier League, Italian Serie A, UEFA Champions League, Copa Santander Libertadores and Copa Nissan Sudamericana; coverage of the Major League Baseball regular season, All-Star Game, National League Championship Series and World Series; Top Rank Boxing, UFC® and mixed-martial arts across four compelling media platforms. Boasting more than 2,100 hours of live and exclusive programming, a robust web site brimming with streaming video and portable content from FSE Móvil, FOX Deportes is the first name in the U.S. Hispanic sports space. For more information, visit FOX Deportes online at www.Foxdeportes.com.
About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 20 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.