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Good news for fans of German football in America: FOX Sports has you covered. After several years of mediocre coverage on hard-to-get GolTV, the broadcast rights for the Bundesliga got snapped up by FOX for the next few seasons. The network unveiled their coverage plan on Thursday, and it pretty much kicks ass.
FOX Sports 1 will carry 58 live matches this season, plus 60 more on FOX Sports 2. Viewers who prefer to watch their games with Spanish commentary will get to choose from a whopping 105 games on FOX Deportes. FOX Soccer Plus will also have a scattering of other matches, both live and tape-delayed. The whole Bundesliga schedule will also be available online through the FOX Soccer 2 Go streaming platform.
The package is significantly better than what was rumored earlier in the week, which included few to no matches on FOX Sports 1, with all the German matches on FOX Sports 2 — a channel which generally requires a much higher programming tier to access — and FOX Soccer Plus, a channel few providers even carry.
The Bundesliga kicks off when Bayern Munich host Hamburg SV on Aug. 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET, and it’s going to be shown on FOX Sports 2.
In the news
After last season’s disappointing loan spell at Hamburg, Bayern Munich are keeping Julian Green at home this season — where he’s going to play with the reserves. (Kicker)
Spain’s long-reigning women’s national team manager Ignacio Quereda ended his 27-year time with the team after a player revolt. His replacement, Jorge Vilda, was only seven years old when Quereda was first hired. (UEFA.com)
South Korean Chung Mong-joon, a former FIFA vice-president, is ready to oppose UEFA head Michel Platini in the FIFA presidential race, and will run on a platform of very aggressive reform. (BBC)
Mario Balotelli’s time with Liverpool looks done after being left out of both of the squads the Reds are using in friendlies this weekend. (Mirror)
You should be reading
Chris Collinson takes a look at some of the best players available on a free transfer. (BBC)
Players, owners, and even the former USSF president look back at the birth of MLS 20 years ago. (Sports Illustrated)
Matt Gault looks into the bizarre career of Michael Owen, who had a meteoric rise and a sudden fall from stardom. (These Football Times)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, it will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Crystal Palace are closing in on Sunderland striker Connor Wickham after agreeing a £9 million fee. (Mail)
Leicester City are considering Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler, and may have already lodged a nearly €5 million bid. (Football Italia)
Barcelona are willing to sell Pedro, but want to hold off until after the UEFA Supercup. (Marca)
What happened in Thursday’s matches
Real Madrid beat AC Milan on penalties in the last International Champions Cup match in China. (ESPN FC)
Southampton beat Vitesse 3-0 in Europa League qualifying. (BBC)
West Ham took an early Europa qualifying lead over Romanian side Astra, but threw it away in the second half in a 2-2 draw. (BBC)
Also in Europa qualifying Borussia Dortmund got an all-important away goal in a 1-0 win over Austrians Wolfsberger. (Goal)
Sampodria’s Europa dreams likely ended when they were humiliated 4-0 on home soil by Serbian side Vojvodina. (Football Italia)
What to watch this weekend (click for listings, all times ET)
Liga MX: Tijuana vs. Sinaloa (Friday, 10:30 p.m.) — The Xolos look to get their first win of the Apertura season against the Dorados.
Liga MX: Queretaro vs. Pachuca (Friday, 8:30 p.m.) — Both teams started the Apertura with a win, and will be looking to make it two in a row to try and build early momentum in the title hunt.
DFL-Supercup: VfL Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.) — Germany’s Supercup pits behemoth Bayern against last year’s surprise upstarts Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg shocked Bayern 4-1 once in the league last season, can they do it again to start the new campaign?
Trophée des Champions: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Olympique Lyonnais (Saturday, 3 p.m.) — The French season kicks off with Lyon hoping to hold off PSG in France’s Supercup match.
MLS: Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Saturday, 10:00 p.m.) — While it may not be the pure fiery hatred of Seattle vs. Portland, this part of the Cascadia rivalry still offers plenty of entertainment, especially with Seattle getting Clint Dempsey and potentially Obafemi Martins back in their attack at long last.
Community Shield: Chelsea vs. Arsenal (Sunday 10 a.m.) — The English season starts in style as the two biggest clubs in London go head-to-head in England’s traditional curtain-raiser.
ICC: Fiorentina vs. Barcelona (3 p.m.) — Yep, the International Champions Cup is still happening. Think there’s any chance Fiorentina can beat Barcelona?
