ESPN will present comprehensive coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup June 11, through July 11, from 10 stadiums in nine cities across South Africa. All 64 matches will be aired live and in high definition on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, and extensive coverage on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. In addition, 2010 FIFA World Cup studio programs, including prematch, halftime and postmatch segments, will be presented in high definition.
ESPN will air 44 FIFA World Cup matches from South Africa – the most ever for the network in one tournament. ESPN2 will feature 10 matches. ABC will broadcast 10, beginning with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s tournament opener vs. England on Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. ET in Rustenburg. The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
Coverage will begin Friday, June 11, on ESPN, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV, with the tournament’s opening match at 9:30 a.m. from the Soccer City in Johannesburg, host country South Africa versus Mexico.
PREMATCH, HALFTIME AND POSTMATCH SEGMENTS
For the first time in ESPN’s 28-year history of covering the FIFA World Cup, all match telecasts will include prematch, halftime and postmatch studio segments originating live from the host nation. The prematch segment will include the teams walking onto the pitch, the national anthems and ceremonial handshakes – all symbolic FIFA World Cup traditions.
ESPN360.COM
ESPN’s signature broadband network will provide live online simulcasts of the 54 ESPN and ESPN2 matches. The service will also feature ESPN and ESPN2’s live prematch, halftime and postmatch segments.
Additionally, all 64 matches will be archived and accessible to fans on ESPN360.com through the end of the calendar year. All matches will be available for replay on ESPN360.com shortly after the completion.
ESPN360.com is one of the premier broadband destinations for live soccer events featuring Spain’s La Liga, German Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie, The Football League and the Carling Cup (UK), Italian soccer (Serie A, Coppa Italia), Russian Premier League, Chinese Premiere League and more
ESPN MOBILE TV
ESPN Mobile TV -- ESPN's 24/7 mobile sports television network available through an agreement with Sprint and on the FLO TV and MobiTV platforms via AT&T and Verizon -- will feature live coverage of 46 matches from ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts except the eight on concurrent match windows, June 22-25.
MATCH REAIRS ON ESPN CLASSIC AND ESPN2
ESPN Classic will reair all 64 FIFA World Cup matches. Each matchday, between at 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., the network will present all the matches played earlier that day.
ESPN and ESPN2 will air the best match of the day on select nights throughout the tournament.
THE U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
The U.S. Men’s National Team, currently ranked No. 14 in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will kickoff its 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign against England (ranked No. 9) live on ABC HD Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m., from the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg. Other U.S. first round matches:
Fri 6/18 ESPN/ESPN360.com at 9:30 a.m.
Slovenia vs. USA
Wed 6/23 ESPN/ESPN360.com at 9:30 a.m.
USA vs. Algeria
View the FIFA 2010 World Cup TV Schedule - World Cup Broadcast Schedule
ESPN Inc.’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Coverage in the United States
South Africa 2010 will be ESPN’s eighth FIFA World Cup and coverage of the event promises to be the most comprehensive in company history. ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will air all 64 matches live and in high definition. ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband network available in 41 million homes, will feature live English-language simulcasts of matches on ESPN and ESPN2. ESPN Mobile TV will show 46 matches. ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language all sports network, will air up to 40 matches in Portuguese live in the U.S.
Additionally, ESPN will present 2010 FIFA World Cup television studio programming from site in South Africa, offering U.S. sports fans the most comprehensive news and information coverage throughout the month-long soccer showcase. Studio coverage of the quadrennial global event will include SportsCenter segments, a nightly World Cup Live program, and prematch, halftime and postmatch shows, with additional studio programming and World Cup-branded segments, totaling more than 65 hours of coverage, originating from two sets in and around Johannesburg.
ESPN Coverage of Past FIFA World Cup Events:
Germany 2006 – All 64 matches live and in high definition
Korea/Japan 2002 – 58 ESPN and ESPN2 matches live (6 tape-delayed broadcasts on ABC)
France 1998 – All 64 matches live on ESPN (27), ESPN2 (23) and ABC Sports (14)
USA 1994 – All 52 matches – ESPN (41) and ABC (11)
Mexico 1986 – 15 matches on ESPN (U.S. cable television rights)
Spain 1982 – 7 matches on ESPN
