Soccer on ESPN/ABC

Soccer on ESPN/ABC
Genre	Soccer telecasts
Theme music composer	Lisle Moore
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	2+ hours (or until game ends)
Production company	ESPN
Release
Original network	ABC ESPN ESPN+ ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPNU ESPN3
External links
Website

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

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 Jon Champion, Derek Rae, Mark Donaldson, Steve Cangialosi, and Ross Dyer with color commentators: Taylor Twellman, Craig Burley, Kasey Keller, Danny Higginbotham, Alejandro Moreno, Matt Lawrence, and Janusz Michallik. Meanwhile, higher profile matches are commentated by Ian Darke or Jon Champion with color commentators Steve McManaman, Stewart Robson, Danny Higginbotham, and Taylor Twellman. Kay Murray hosts studio coverage for the qualifiers with studio analyst Craig Burley. These rights are set to move to Fox Sports after 2022.^[3][4]

Through their deal with the MLS, ESPN/ABC shares the rights for USMNT and USWNT matches with Fox Sports. For men's matches, Champion and Twellman commentate the action with Sebastian Salazar serving as the host alongside Kasey Keller, Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Moreno, and Herculez Gomez.

The women's matches are commentated by Ian Darke, Sebastian Salazar, Adrian Healey, or Glenn Davis alongside color commentator Julie Foudy.

Clubs[]

International Champions Cup[]

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

Leagues Cup[]

ESPN annually airs the Leagues Cup, a interleague competition between four clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX on ESPN2 and ESPN+.^[5]

United States[]

MLS[]

ESPN currently airs MLS matches on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 in a contract from 2015 to 2022. ABC will air select MLS games on Saturday and Sunday during the regular season, select playoff games annually, and 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 MLS on ESPN).^[6]

USL[]

ESPN airs all matches from the USL on ESPN+ with select matches on ESPNews or ESPNU.^[7] 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. 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.^[8] 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 on-site, and Jon Champion and Matt Lawrence commentating.

FA Cup[]

ESPN airs all matches from the FA Cup on paid streaming service ESPN+, including Community Shield (before the cup season stars). This broadcast started in 2018 when Fox Sports coverage of the tournament expired.^[9][10] 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 alongside ESPN FC pundits.

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.^[11] The last time ESPN previously aired the league was in 2011–12. Linear TV matches are preceded by a 30-minute pregame show as well as a digital prematch show with postmatch coverage on ESPN+. Derek Rae and Taylor Twellman or Lutz Pfannenstiel are the lead broadcast team since 2021–22. Also, Mark Donaldson and one of Kasey Keller, Pfannenstiel, or Janusz Michallik are working as the secondary broadcast team while the ESPN+ matches are commentated by world feed. Studio coverage is hosted by Kay Murray on TV or Dan Thomas on digital alongside Craig Burley, Jan Åge Fjørtoft, Keller, Jürgen Klinsmann, Steve Cherundolo, and reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt. The Bundesliga on ABC debuted in 2021 with Bayern vs. BVB. Rae and Twellman called the match while Kay Murray hosted in the studio with analysts Twellman and Klinsmann.

ESPN also broadcasts the second-tier competition, the 2. Bundesliga. Every week, at least one match is broadcast on ESPN+, with Ross Dyer or Jonathan Yardley calling the action.

DFB-Pokal[]

ESPN also air the German domestic cup, the DFB Pokal.^[12] Early round matches usually air on ESPN3 and commentated by world feed. From quarterfinal, matches is airing on linear TV channels, mostly on ESPNews and ESPN2 with commentary provided by Derek Rae or Ross Dyer and Taylor Twellman or Kasey Keller.

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.^[13]

Spain[]

La Liga[]

ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ are set to begin coverage of La Liga for the 2021–22 season. English-language coverage is led by Dan Thomas and Kay Murray, who will be sharing hosting duties.^[14][15] Ian Darke and Steve McManaman serve as the lead broadcast team. Other play-by-play men are: Derek Rae, Adrian Healey, Rob Palmer, Sebastian Salazar, Mark Donaldson, and Fernando Palomo while other analysts include: Luis García, Pablo Zabaleta, Kasey Keller, Alejandro Moreno, Stewart Robson, Alex Pareja and Diego Forlán. Garcia and Zabaleta also contribute as studio analysts. World feed commentator also to be used for several games on ESPN+. For the La Liga on ABC or big matches like the El Clásico, Dan Thomas hosts the prematch on site alongside Luis García and Pablo Zabaleta.

Andrés Agulla, Cristina Alexander, and Ricardo Puig led Spanish-language coverage. Play-by-play is provided by Fernando Palomo, Jorge Ramos, Ricardo Ortiz, and Mauricio Pedroza alongside Diego Forlán, Mario Kempes, Hugo Sánchez, Andrés Agulla, Carolina De Las Salas, Alex Pareja. and Hernán Pereyra. Reporters for both languages include Martin Ainstein, Rodrigo Faez, Moises Llorens, Sid Lowe, Manu Martín, Gemma Soler and London-based football reporter Alexis Nunes.^[16][17]

RFEF[]

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

Other soccer rights acquired by ESPN[]

• Belgian First Division A
• Chinese Super League
• Allsvenskan

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^[18] 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^[19] and assorted playoff games.^[20] 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,^[21] 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^[22] for the weekly telecasts on ESPN.

For the 1986–87 season, ESPN actually paid the MISL a fee^[23] 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,^[24] 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^[25] and the then brand new ESPN2,^[26] giving national exposure to the league.^[27] As part of a three-year agreement, a Game of the Week (dubbed Balls of Fire) would be televised on ESPN2 on Friday^[28] nights. ESPN2 would carry as many as 20 games^[29] in 1993–94 and 24^[30] in 1994–95.^[31] 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^[32] and Ed Vucinic,^[33] 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,^[34][35] 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.

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+.^[36] ESPN uses its own broadcast teams for games shown on television - commentary is provided by play-by-play 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. In May 2021, ESPN ended its coverage of Serie A as CBS Sports picked up the rights.

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. In July 2021, coverage was picked up by CBS Sports.

On-air personalities[]

Play-by-play announcers[]

Name	Nationality	Coverage	Notes
Ian Darke		International Matches La Liga United States men's national soccer team United States women's national soccer team	La Liga and International matches lead play-by-play announcer
Jon Champion		MLS International Matches FA Cup United States men's national soccer team	MLS, FA Cup, and USMNT lead play-by-play announcer
Derek Rae		Bundesliga DFB-Pokal International Matches La Liga	Bundesliga lead play-by-play announcer
Glenn Davis		MLS College Soccer
Mark Donaldson		International Matches Bundesliga La Liga
Steve Cangialosi		MLS International Matches
Rob Palmer		La Liga
Ross Dyer		International Matches DFB-Pokal 2. Bundesliga Bundesliga
Adrian Healey		MLS La Liga International Matches	MLS fill-in play-by-play announcer
Jenn Hildreth		College Soccer	Women's College Soccer lead play-by-play announcer
Jonathan Yardley		MLS International Matches College Soccer 2. Bundesliga Bundesliga
Mike Watts		USL College Soccer	USL lead play-by-play announcer
Sebastian Salazar		United States women's national soccer team Copa del Rey La Liga	MLS lead studio host and USWNT lead play-by-play announcer
Andres Cordero		MLS	MLS fill-in play-by-play announcer
Kevin Egan		MLS	MLS fill-in play-by-play announcer

Color commentators[]

Name	Nationality	Coverage	Notes
Steve McManaman		International Matches La Liga	Lead La Liga and International matches color commentator
Taylor Twellman		MLS USMNT International Matches FA Cup Bundesliga DFB-Pokal	MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga, and USMNT lead color commentator
Kasey Keller		MLS International Matches Bundesliga DFB-Pokal 2. Bundesliga La Liga	MLS lead studio analyst
Craig Burley		International Matches FA Cup	Lead international matches studio analyst
Stewart Robson		International Matches La Liga
Matt Lawrence		International Matches EFL
Lutz Pfannenstiel		Bundesliga	Bundesliga lead color commentator
Alejandro Moreno		MLS Mexico national football team International Matches Copa del Rey La Liga	Lead Mexico color commentator and MLS studio analyst
Janusz Michallik		International Matches Bundesliga 2. Bundesliga
Julie Foudy		USWNT	Lead USWNT color commentator
Lori Lindsey		MLS USWNT College Soccer International Matches	MLS and USWNT fill-in color commentator
Danny Higginbotham		EFL Championship International matches MLS	Lead EFL color commentator
Luis García		La Liga
Pablo Zabaleta		La Liga
Brian Dunseth		MLS	MLS fill-in color commentator
Kyndra de St. Aubin		MLS	MLS fill-in color commentator
Devon Kerr		USL College Soccer	USL lead color commentator
Charlie Davies		College Soccer	Men's soccer lead color commentator
Angela Hucles		College Soccer	ACC lead color commentator
Cat Whitehill		College Soccer	SEC lead color commentator
Diego Forlan		La Liga
Thorsten Stuckmann		Bundesliga

Presenters[]

Name	Nationality	Coverage	Notes
Rece Davis		International Matches	Lead International host[37][38][39]
Kelly Cates		International Matches	International host
		International Matches	International host
Dan Thomas		ESPN FC FA Cup EFL Cup La Liga	Lead ESPN FC and La Liga host
Sebastian Salazar		MLS ESPN FC La Liga USMNT	MLS lead studio host ESPN FC fill-in host Fútbol Americas co-host
Kay Murray		ESPN FC International Matches Bundesliga La Liga	Lead Bundesliga and European Qualifiers host
Mark Donaldson		ESPN FC	Digital
		ESPN FC	Digital

Studio analyst[]

Name	Nationality	Coverage	Notes
Steve McManaman		International Matches La Liga ESPN FC	Lead La Liga and International matches color commentator
Taylor Twellman		MLS International Matches ESPN FC	MLS, USMNT, FA Cup, and Bundesliga lead color commentator
Kasey Keller		MLS International Matches Bundesliga	MLS lead studio analyst
Craig Burley		International Matches ESPN FC Bundesliga FA Cup EFL Cup	International matches, Bundesliga, FA Cup, and EFL Cup lead studio analyst
Julie Foudy		MLS USWNT International men's matches	Lead USWNT color commentator
Jan Åge Fjørtoft		Bundesliga ESPN FC	Lead Bundesliga studio analyst
Stewart Robson		International Matches ESPN FC
Jürgen Klinsmann		Bundesliga ESPN FC	Lead Bundesliga studio analyst
Don Hutchison		ESPN FC International Matches EFL Cup FA Cup EFL Championship
Frank Leboeuf		ESPN FC International Matches
Alejandro Moreno		MLS ESPN FC	MLS lead studio analyst
Steve Nicol		ESPN FC
Shaka Hislop		ESPN FC
Herculez Gomez		MLS ESPN FC	MLS studio analyst and Fútbol Americas co-host
Alessandro Del Piero		International Matches ESPN FC
Nedum Onuoha		International Matches ESPN FC
Ali Krieger		International Matches ESPN FC
Luis García		La Liga International Matches ESPN FC	La Liga lead studio analyst
Jermaine Jones		USMNT
Pablo Zabaleta		La Liga International Matches ESPN FC	La Liga lead studio analyst
Mark Clattenburg		International Matches ESPN FC	Football Laws Analyst
Gemma Soler		La Liga International Matches ESPN FC	Spain-based correspondent
Mina Rzouki		ESPN FC	Writer
Mark Ogdenn		ESPN FC	Writer
Sid Lowe		ESPN FC	Writer
Julien Laurens		ESPN FC	Writer
Gabriele Marcotti		ESPN FC	Writer
Nicky Bandini		ESPN FC	Writer
Rodrigo Faez		La Liga ESPN FC	Writer
Samuel Marsden		La Liga ESPN FC	Writer
Moises Llorens		La Liga ESPN FC	Writer
Milan van Dongen		Eredivisie International Matches ESPN FC

Reporters[]

Name	Nationality	Coverage	Notes
Sam Borden		International Matches USMNT	Lead USMNT and International matches reporter
Martin Ainstein		International Matches Copa del Rey La Liga
Archie Rhind-Tutt		International Matches Bundesliga ESPN FC	Lead Bundesliga reporter
Alexis Nunes		International Matches ESPN FC FA Cup EFL Cup La Liga	Host and reporter

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 and color commentator Seamus Malin. For the final on ABC, Jim McKay, Mario Machado, and Paul Gardner called the final between Italy and West Germany at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.^[40][41] (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 FIFA World Cup marked the return of the World Cup on ESPN and ABC^[42] and the first time they used their own commentary teams for all matches. Roger Twibell, Seamus Malin,^[43] and Rick Davis were the lead broadcast team.^[44] Al Trautwig and Davis were the secondary broadcast team.^[45][46][47] Other play-by-play announcers were: Bob Carpenter Bob Ley, Ian Darke, Randy Hahn, and Jim Donovan.^[46][47] Other color commentators were: Clive Charles, Ty Keough, Peter Vermes,^[48] Ron Newman, and Bill McDermott. Jim McKay was the studio host alongside studio analyst Desmond Armstrong only for games on ABC. (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.^[49][50][51] (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.^[52][53] Three other broadcast teams called games in Bristol, Connecticut were: JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth, Glenn Davis and Shep Messing, and Mike Hill 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.^[54] 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 the secondary broadcast team. Other broadcast teams were: Derek Rae and Ally McCoist, Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe, and Jim Proudfoot and Roberto Martínez. Studio analysts included: Steve McManaman, Jürgen Klinsmann, Roberto 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 ^[55] (South Africa).^[56]

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, , Adrian Healey, and Fernando Palomo. Other 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, and Rubens Pozzi.^[57]

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.^[58][59] The studio team featured hosts Rece Davis and Rob Stone with analysts Julie Foudy and Alexi Lalas. Gray and Smyth also served as pundits later in the nightly recap shows.^[60][61]

Euro 2012[]

Ian Darke and Steve McManaman were the lead commentary team for ESPN. Other broadcast teams were: Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe and Derek Rae and Kasey Keller or Taylor Twellman. The studio team was based at headquarters in Bristol. Studio hosts were Bob Ley, Max Bretos, and Rebecca Lowe. Studio analysts were: Michael Ballack, Alexi Lalas, Keller, Twellman, and Tommy Smyth. Glenn Hoddle and Roberto Martínez were the special contributors, who were live from Poland and Ukraine. Alicia Ferguson and Darrell Currie are the reporters.^[62][63]

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 secondary team. The top two broadcast teams called the games on-site in the country.^[64][65][66] Other play-by-play announcers were: Derek Rae, Adrian Healey, [1], and Max Bretos. Other color commentators were: Tommy Smyth, Alejandro Moreno, Kate Markgraf,^[67] and Paul Mariner. Studio analysts were: Craig Burley, Santiago Solari, Vincent Kompany, who missed that tournament with a serious injury,^[68][69] 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 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.^[70][71] Rece Davis^[37][38][39] 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, being based at Wembley Stadium in London.^[72] 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, Sami Khedira, Frank Leboeuf, Chris Coleman, Nedum Onuoha, Kasey Keller, Christian Fuchs, Luis García, and Craig Burley. Former referee Mark Clattenburg will work as rules analyst. Reporters included: Sam Borden, Martin Ainstein, Archie Rhind-Tutt, and Alexis Nunes.^[73][74]

Initially, ESPN planned to send all commentators to every match and have studio programming originate out of an outdoor studio in London, however, due to coronavirus, studio programming and all but one broadcast team are from ESPN HQ in Bristol. However, starting in the quarterfinals, ESPN sends Champion and Twellman to call the Belgium-Italy match from Allianz Arena in Munich^[75] and Italy-Spain semifinal match from Wembley.^[76] Darke and Twellman called the Euro 2020 Final at the same stadium.^[77]

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. Other broadcast teams were: Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth and Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe.^[78][79]

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.^[80]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website