Univision Deportes and ESPN ,have formalized an alliance to increase the reach of the Mexican National Soccer Team (nicknamed “El Tri”) in the U.S. The agreement grants ESPN’s English-language networks and digital platforms the media rights to Mexico’s home FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches and international friendlies. The English-language coverage will complement Univision’s popular Spanish-language coverage of the Mexican Team on broadcast, cable and interactive platforms.
The series of 20 matches started yesterday Wed., Jan. 30, with an international friendly in Phoenix, Arizona, vs. Denmark at 10 p.m. ET (in Spanish on UniMás/Univision Deportes Network and English on ESPN2/WatchESPN), and conclude with the team’s last match before the 2014 World Cup™.
Univision Deportes and ESPN will also televise the much-anticipated Mexico vs. USA match in Mexico City on Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30 p.m. ET – the first leg of a home and away matches between the two rivals in the Hexagonal Round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying series for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) region.
Univision Deportes will continue to broadcast Mexican National Team matches in Spanish across Univision Network, UniMás,Univision Deportes Network with additional content on its digital and social platforms. Matches will be preceded by live editions of “Futbol Central” (Soccer Central). ESPN will have access to match highlights across ESPN studio programs such asSportsCenter, ESPN FC Press Pass, First Take, SportsNation, Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption, and ESPN Radio’sMike and Mike in the Morning (simulcast on ESPN2). Univision Deportes and ESPN will also each have a reporter pitch-side access during select El Tri matches.
