Fox Sports Begins a Summer Soccer Odyssey

Beginning tonight and lasting into mid-August, Fox Sports 1 and the Fox Mothership will air 14 soccer games which will give us a hint of how the division will be covering the beautiful game over the next few years.

With a series of Club Friendlies and the International Champions Cup that is being played among teams from the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Superleague Greece.

We won’t hear Gus Johnson on these games, but we will hear veteran US voice JP Dellacamera on the ICC with Brian McBride.

Tonight, Fox Sports 1 carries the Club Friendly between MLS’ LA Galaxy and Manchester United. Rob Stone will call the game along with analysts Warren Barton and soccer troll Eric Wynalda. Julie Stewart-Binks will roam the sidelines.

Here’s the schedule of games on Fox/Fox Sports 1 over the next 21 days.

SOCCER SUMMER SIZZLES FOR FOX SPORTS

On Tap: International Champions Cup, Preseason Friendlies,
FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup
LA Galaxy – Manchester United Friendly Ignites Action

Los Angeles – As the world’s soccer fans bid farewell to Brazil, the action heats up at FOX Sports with 14 telecasts scheduled over 21 days between July 23 and Aug. 12, many featuring Europe’s top players and clubs in highly anticipated matches on FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, FOX Deportes and FOX Sports GO.

“We are thrilled to bring great teams from around the world together here in the U.S.,” said David Nathanson, General Manager and COO of FOX Sports. “It gives American soccer fans a chance to see the sports at its highest level of play.”

It all begins with a preseason friendly live from Pasadena’s Rose Bowl when MLS giant LA Galaxy, led by renown striker Landon Donovan take on Louie Van Gaal’s Manchester United, leading his first game for one of the world’s most heralded soccer clubs. Rob Stone calls the action on-site alongside analysts Eric Wynalda and Warren Barton and sideline reporter Julie Stewart-Binks, live on Wednesday, July 23 at 11:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. FOX Deportes’ coverage kicks off at the same time with John Laguna, Mariano Trujillo and Mauricio Cardenas at the Rose Bowl.

A day later, the second annual International Champions Cup, the eight team bracketed U.S.-based soccer tournament, gets underway featuring AC Milan, AS Roma, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Olympiakos and UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.  The tournament is being contested in Toronto and 12 cities throughout America, with the final once again played in Miami.  AC Milan faces off against Greek side Olympiakos in the opener on Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1, with Mark Rogondino and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Cobi Jones on the call.

FOX broadcasts two ICC matches, starting with the clash between Manchester United and AS Roma in Denver, live on Saturday, July 26 at 4:00 PM ET. The final round on Saturday, August 2 features the exciting matchup of Manchester United vs. Real Madrid, live on FOX at 4:00 PM ET from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The championship match is set for Miami’s Sun Life Stadium on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. JP Dellacamera and Brian McBride are on the call for each of the matches, with Stone, Wynalda and Barton anchoring studio coverage in Ann Arbor and Miami.

These soccer heavyweights don’t get much of a summer break following the conclusion of the Guinness International Champions Cup as they fly back to Europe for two all-English and all-Spanish affairs in the lead-up to the 2014-2015 season. The FA Community Shield features the Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City and the FA Cup champions Arsenal in an attractive encounter at London’s Wembley Stadium, live on Sunday, August 10 at 9:30 AM ET on FOX Sports 1. Another epic battle ensues on Tuesday, August 12 as the UEFA Super Cup takes place with UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid and UEFA Europa League victors Sevilla, live on FOX Sports 1 at 2:00 PM ET. Stone hosts in-studio with Wynalda, Barton, Stewart-Binks and McBride joining the coverage.

Viewers have complete access to all 14 games via FOX Soccer 2Go and FOX Sports GO, the app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on-the-go. Additionally, FOXSoccer.com delivers the ultimate insider look on and off the field at the 13 ICC venues, with video highlights, editorial coverage and profiles of major teams and players. Fans can also follow all the action with live play-by-play commentary and through Twitter (@FOXSoccer) and Instagram (@FOX_Soccer) using the hashtag #ICConFOX.

Below is the complete TV schedule:

Date/Time (ET) Property Match-up TV
Wed., 7/23 at 11:00 PM Preseason Friendly Manchester United vs. LA Galaxy FOX Sports 1
Thurs., 7/24 at 7:30 PM International Champions Cup Olympiakos vs. AC Milan FOX Sports 1
Sat., 7/26 at 4:00 PM International Champions Cup Manchester United vs. AS Roma FOX
Sat., 7/26 at 6:00 PM International Champions Cup Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan FOX Sports 2
Sun., 7/27 at 3:30 PM International Champions Cup AC Milan vs. Manchester City FOX Sports 1
Sun., 7/27 at 6:00 PM International Champions Cup Liverpool vs. Olympiakos FOX Sports 1
Tues., 7/29 at 9:30 PM International Champions Cup Real Madrid vs. AS Roma FOX Sports 2
Wed., 7/30 at 7:00 PM International Champions Cup Manchester City vs. Liverpool FOX Sports 1
Sat., 8/2 at 12:30 PM International Champions Cup Inter Milan vs. AS Roma FOX Sports 2
Sat., 8/2 at 3:00 PM International Champions Cup Olympiakos vs. Manchester City FOX Sports 2
Sat., 8/2 at 4:00 PM International Champions Cup Manchester United vs. Real Madrid FOX
Mon., 8/4 at 7:30 PM International Champions Cup Final FOX Sports 1
Sun., 8/10 at 9:30 AM FA Community Shield Manchester City vs. Arsenal FOX Sports 1
Tues., 8/12 at 2:00 PM UEFA Super Cup Real Madrid vs. Sevilla FOX Sports 1

And there you have it.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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