Sports Media Report
Today, FOX Sports announce its schedule for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the summer’s most anticipated global event, featuring all 64 matches live, including an unprecedented 38 matches on broadcast television and 26 on FS1. From June 14 through July 15, all matches can also be live-streamed via FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer Match Pass. Today’s announcement was made by David Neal, FOX Sports Executive Producer, FIFA World Cup, and Vice President of Production.
For the first time ever in English-language television history, 38 matches will air live on broadcast television, more than the last four World Cups™ combined. Group stage action begins on the FOX broadcast network with host country Russia battling Saudi Arabia on Thursday, June 14 at 11:00 AM ET. The FIFA World Cup™ Champion will be crowned on FOX with the final scheduled for Sunday, July 15 at 11:00 AM ET.
“The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is not only the summer’s biggest sporting event, but FOX Sports’ largest production in our 24-year history,” said Neal. “Our programming team has done a terrific job curating a schedule fit for an event of this magnitude, showcasing thrilling matchups on both FOX and FS1, including more matches than ever before on broadcast television.”
Additional highlights scheduled for the FOX broadcast network include global soccer icons, Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal vs. Spain on Friday, June 15 at 2:00 PM ET) and Lionel Messi (Argentina vs. Iceland on Saturday, June 16 at 9:00 AM ET), both looking for their first World Cup titles, and reigning FIFA World Cup™ champion Germany (Germany vs. Sweden on Saturday, June 23 at 2:00 PM ET) competing for its fifth FIFA World Cup™ title.
FS1’s presentation includes 26 matches, highlighted by an action-packed opening weekend that features Germany, Brazil, France and Mexico. One of the most anticipated doubleheaders of group stage action is on tap Sunday, June 17 at 11:00 AM ET as No. 1-ranked Germany squares off against No. 17-ranked Mexico, a team seeking to end a streak of six consecutive defeats in the round of 16. Immediately following, Neymar and Brazil open their World Cup™ campaign, in search of a sixth title, against Switzerland (2:00 PM ET). On Saturday, June 16, Didier Deschamps’ France battles Australia at 6:00 AM ET, and Peru returns to the world’s biggest stage after 36 years against Denmark at 12:00 PM ET.
In addition to match coverage, FOX Sports will offer extensive coverage studio programming for the month-long tournament originating from Russia’s iconic Red Square, including pregame, postgame and late night shows.
Full schedule can be found here.
All FOX soccer matches can be live streamed via FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer Match Pass. FOX Sports GO is available on FOXSportsGO.com or on the FOX Sports GO app, which can be downloaded from iTunes, Google Play, Amazon App Store and Windows Store. Streaming is also now available on several connected devices, including Apple TV, Android TV, FireTV, Roku, Chromecast and Xbox One.
