Fox Sports prepares for extensive coverage of World Cup

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The network features nine commentary teams lined up to cover all 104 matches on site in the 16 host cities.

One downside to Fox Sports World Cup coverageWhich begins next Thursday when Mexico faces South Africa at one o’clock in the afternoon, before the start of the matches.

There will be plenty of Alexi Lalas, who returns as the main studio commentator. You may want to stock up on an extra supply of Smug Repellent if you plan to use it regularly over the next couple of weeks.

Pros of their coverage plan? Well, I think a lot of these things, as well as the unexpected negatives, will be revealed over the course of the tournament. For now, we know that Fox intends to be as inclusive as possible.

The network has nine commentary teams lined up to cover all 104 matches on site in the 16 host cities, Including Foxboro …er, Boston Stadium. Seventy of those games will be broadcast on Fox, with another 34 on FS1. Each game will be broadcast live and available on demand on Fox One.

“It’s a really big job and a really big project, and we feel like we’re in a great position right now,” said Zach Kenworthy, vice president of production at Fox Sports and lead studio producer for the World Cup.

The main broadcast team will once again be play-by-play voice John Strong and analyst and former men’s national team member Stu Holden. They will call the USMNT’s opening match against Paraguay, along with sideline reporter and Boston University alumna Jenny Taft, on June 12.

Holden said the United States has the talent to put on a memorable World Cup, but Americans must embrace everything that comes with being there. Home team.

“On any given Tuesday or Wednesday in the Champions League, you’ll see eight or nine American players playing in those games,” Holden said. “This is something we have never seen in our history.

“But the hardest part to measure and analyze is how the team is going towards being the host. Do they crumble under the pressure or do they thrive and realize this is a huge opportunity and responsibility? If they can find a way to work together as individuals to play as a team, they can do something special. The legacy is set in the World Cup.”

The opener between Mexico and South Africa will be called by Ian Darke and Landon Donovan. As for the second match on this day, between South Korea and the Czech Republic, it will be between Jackie Utley and Warren Barton. Beverly resident Derek Ray will be paired with Robert Greene.

Fox has brought in some of the biggest names in recent football history to be studio analysts, including Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lalas, Carli Lloyd and Clint Dempsey are among the NFL legends who will be in the studio. Hosts include Rob Stone and Rebecca Lowe.

Hudson move on

Many Bruins fans heard from this week who were disappointed to learn that reporter and studio personality Kasey Hudson’s contract will not be renewed at NESN, showing that Bruins fans know talent when they see it.

Hudson, who joined the network in January 2025, She said in the @TheSportsCase X brief It wasn’t the result I was hoping for, [but] I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to learn, grow and begin building relationships within one of the most passionate and respected sports markets in the world.

Hudson, who has often championed the work of others and has a way of making analytics accessible to everyone, acknowledged that the next steps are “scary.” Perhaps it will follow the path of the likes of Jenny Dale, Jimmy Erdal and others, who left NESN to find greater success elsewhere.

Tirico knows the ball

Mike Tirico has described seemingly every sport at the highest level, and very well. But after listening to him as the lead play-by-play voice on NBC this season in the NBA’s return to the network — especially his incredible call in Game 7 of the Thunder-Spurs series — I think basketball might be the best call.

Of course, no matter how many high-profile national games he calls for NBC over the life of his current rights deal, his biggest highlight is his basketball voice. It simply has to be the March 2025 NBC Sports Boston broadcastwhen he entered a match and that happened to be the match Payton Pritchard scored 43 points and Derrick White scored 41. Whatever can top that, right?

I wish the best for Jasper

Best wishes to colleague and good man Chris Jasper, He revealed through his social media channels, including his Instagram page @cgaspersports, that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer several months ago and will undergo surgery..

“My prognosis is encouraging, and I hope to see you on the other side,” he wrote. “Then you can resume telling me how misled you feel by the views I express about sports in the world @bostonglobeon @985thesportshuband @nbcsboston“.

I’ve always looked forward to the give and take with Chris on the merits of Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, etc. Never more than now.