In what will be Fox’s first test as it leads up to the Women’s World Cup in Canada next year, the network has named the play-by-play announcers and analysts for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament. As you’re well aware by now, Gus Johnson has resigned as Fox’s main voice for soccer.
In his place, Fox will rely on experienced voices such as MLS on NBC lead man John Strong and ESPN/ABC 1999 Women’s World Cup lead play-by-play man JP Dellacamera. Jenn Hildreth will also call selected matches.
Analysts will include U.S. Women’s National Team veterans Cat Whitehill and Angela Hucles along with former USWNT coach Tony DiCicco.
In a good move, Fox will embed reporter Jenny Taft with the USWNT throughout the tournament.
Fox will utilize Rob Stone, the polarizing Eric Wynalda and former USWNT stars Heather Mitts and Leslie Osbourne in the studio. Julie Stewart-Binks will host selected games.
Games will air on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 and Fox Soccer Plus. All USWNT contests will have pregame shows.
Soccer fans will watch closely as this will be an indication of how Fox handles the beautiful game after being treated so well by ESPN since 2010.
The CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Tournament begins tomorrow and will continue through Sunday, October 26.
Here’s the Fox announcement.
FOX SPORTS NAMES ANNOUNCERS FOR COVERAGE OF CONCACAF WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
Reporter Jenny Taft Embedded with USWNT
30-Minute Pregame Show Precedes Every USA MatchLos Angeles — FOX Sports has unveiled the announcers and analysts covering the complete 2014 FIFA Women’s World Cup CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament across the FOX Sports family of networks beginning Wednesday, Oct. 15. For the first time ever, all 16 tournament matches are televised, with coverage provided by FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go. The announcement was made by FIFA World Cup on FOX Executive Producer David Neal.
“The group we’ve assembled for the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship is an exciting mix of veterans and newcomers who we’re sure will blend together nicely, providing soccer fans the insight and coverage they clearly expect,” said Neal. “We’re committed to providing a level of coverage this tournament has never seen, and we’ve set a terrific foundation.”
FOX Sports’ game analysts include numerous U.S. Women’s National Team veterans. Cat Whitehill is a 10-year veteran defender and current player-coach for the Boston Breakers in the National Women’s Soccer League, while midfielder Angela Hucles played on the USWNT for seven years, including two FIFA Women’s World Cups. Defender Danielle Slaton spent five years with the national squad before moving on to play for Olympique Lyonnais, where she was a starting defender on the French First Division team. Tony DiCicco, best known as head coach of the USWNT that won the legendary 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, adds a coach’s perspective. Completing the team are former University of Minnesota soccer star Kyndra de St. Aubin, who has covered women’s soccer for the Big Ten Network and Pac-12 Networks, and former Canadian Women’s National Team striker Christine Latham.
Jenny Taft, a FOX Sports 1 reporter and update anchor and a former Division I college athlete, is assigned exclusively to coverage of the USWNT for the duration of the tournament. Taft is embedded with the USWNT throughout the 12-day tournament, providing an in-depth look, news updates and features from the inside. Her reports also appear daily on FOX Sports 1 studio shows AMERICA’S PREGAME and FOX SPORTS LIVE.
Calling play-by-play throughout the tournament are John Strong, JP Dellacamera, Mark Rogondino, Justin Kutcher, Jenn Hildreth and Mark Followill who have all called the game at the international, professional or collegiate levels. Each play-by-play announcer is paired with various analysts throughout the tournament.
Before every USWNT match, coverage on FOX Sports 1 or FOX Sports 2 kicks off with a 30-minute pregame show live from Los Angeles with host Rob Stone alongside a rotation of expert analysts. Included in that group are U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda, former USWNT stars Leslie Osborne and Heather Mitts, as well as former Mexican Women’s National Team defender Monica Gonzalez. Julie Stewart-Binks also hosts pregame coverage for select matches. FOX Sports soccer insider and Sports Illustrated senior columnist Grant Wahl serves as a tournament correspondent, and longtime FIFA and Match Commissioner Dr. Joe Machnik provides insight and opinion as it pertains to officiating.
The CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying journey begins on Wednesday, Oct. 15 with a doubleheader live from Kansas City’s Sporting Park on FOX Sports 2 as Guatemala takes on Haiti at 6:00 PM ET, followed at 8:00 PM ET by the USWNT opener against Trinidad and Tobago, also live on FOX Sports 2. All games stream live on FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go.
Group Stage and Playoffs
(All times ET; schedule subject to change)Wednesday, October 15
6:00 PM — Guatemala vs. Haiti: JP Dellacamera/Angela Hucles, FOX Sports 2
8:00 PM — Pregame: Rob Stone/Heather Mitts/Eric Wynalda, FOX Sports 1
8:30 PM — USA vs. Trinidad: John Strong/Cat Whitehill/Jenny Taft, FOX Sports 2Thursday, October 16
6:00 PM — Jamaica vs, Martinique: Mark Followill/Kyndra de St. Aubin, FOX Sports 2
8:30 PM — Costa Rica vs. Mexico: Justin Kutcher/Danielle Slaton, FOX Soccer PlusFriday, October 17
6:30 PM — Haiti vs. Trinidad: Jenn Hildreth/Kyndra de St. Aubin, FOX Sports 2
8:30 PM — Pregame: Rob Stone/Heather Mitts/Leslie Osborne/Eric Wynalda, FOX Sports 1
9:00 PM — USA vs. Guatemala: JP Dellacamera/Cat Whitehill/Jenny Taft, FOX Sports 1Saturday, October 18
4:00 PM — Costa Rica vs. Jamaica: Jenn Hildreth/Danielle Slaton, FOX Sports 2
6:30 PM — Martinique vs. Mexico: Mark Rogondino/Cat Whitehill, FOX Sports 2Monday, October 20
5:00 PM — Trinidad vs. Guatemala: Mark Rogondino/Christine Latham, FOX Sports 2
7:00 PM — Pregame: Rob Stone/Heather Mitts/Leslie Osborne/Eric Wynalda, FOX Sports 1
7:30 PM — Haiti vs. USA: John Strong/Tony DiCicco/Jenny Taft, FOX Sports 1Tuesday, October 21
5:00 PM — Martinique vs. Costa Rica: JP Dellacamera/Angela Hucles, FOX Sports 2
7:30 PM — Mexico vs. Jamaica: Justin Kutcher/Cat Whitehill, FOX Sports 1Friday, October 24
4:30 PM — Semifinal 1: Mark Rogondino/Tony DiCicco, FOX Sports 2
7:00 PM — Pregame: Julie Stewart-Binks/Heather Mitts/Leslie Osbourne/Eric Wynalda, FOX Sports 1
7:30 PM — Semifinal 2: Justin Kutcher/Cat Whitehill/Jenny Taft, FOX Sports 1Sunday, October 26
3:00 PM — Third-Place Match: Jenn Hildreth/Tony DiCicco, FOX Sports 1
5:00 PM — Final: John Strong/Cat Whitehill/Jenny Taft, FOX Sports 1*Update: Due to scheduling conflicts, Costa Rica-Mexico has been moved from FOX Sports 2 to FOX Soccer Plus.
That is all.
