Champions return to Fox Sports; UEFA Champions League and CONCACAF Champions League Action Kicks Off on August 19; Season Gives Way to FIFA Women’s World Cup in June

With the buzz of the FIFA World Cup and summer friendlies still ringing in the ears of U.S. soccer fans, FOX Sports, home of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, kicks off its coverage of the 2014-2015 soccer season in a big way next week. FOX Sports’ early season coverage is highlighted by two-dozen matches over eight days in late August from the UEFA Champions League, the world’s premier international club competition, and the CONCACAF Champions League, the region’s top club competition.

The UEFA Champions League takes center stage with the first leg of the playoff round as English powerhouse Arsenal face Turkish side Besiktas live from Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, August 19 (2:00 PM ET) on FOX Sports 1. Almost simultaneously on FOX Sports 2, Napoli of Italy takes on Spain’s Athletic Bilbao in the second of five matches on tap that day.

Wednesday’s action sees another five matches, with Scotland champions Celtic FC, French squad Lille and Portugal’s Porto FC all taking the field. The second leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs continue on the FOX Sports networks next Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27, to determine which teams advance to the highly-anticipated group stage rounds.

Additionally, fans witness the return of the CONCACAF Champions League as four MLS teams begin group stage play. FOX Soccer Plus features a doubleheader on Tuesday, August 19 when the Portland Timbers and Alpha United of Guyana clash at 8:00 PM ET, followed by Nicaraguan club Real Esteli battling Sporting Kansas City at 10:00 PM ET.

Wednesday’s sole match of Match Day 2 has DC United vs. Jamaica’s Waterhouse FC on FOX Sports 2 at 8:00 PM ET. Match Day 3 commences on Tuesday, August 26 (8:00 PM ET) as the New York Red Bulls face Salvadoran side Club Deportivo on FOX Sports 2. Match Day 4 kicks off in September and the final Match Day 6 wraps in October. See below for the complete schedule.

Rob Stone hosts pregame, halftime and post-game UEFA Champions League coverage from Los Angeles with analysts Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Brian McBride. JP Dellacamera teams up with Brian Dunseth and Cobi Jones, and John Strong joins the rotation with Janusz Michallik to call select CONCACAF Champions League games. All matches are available for live and on-demand streaming on FOX Soccer 2Go; FOX Sports GO, the app that provides live video of FOX Sports content at home or on the go, live streams all games on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

UEFA Champions League and CONCACAF Champions League schedule on FOX Sports