FOX Sports Unveils Broadcasters, Ups Prime Time Matches for Major League Soccer’s 27th Season
Twice as Many Prime Time Matches vs. Last Year Headline 34 Match Regular Season Broadcast Schedule
‘MLS is Back’ with Two Opening Weekend Matches Featuring Portland Timbers versus New England Revolution on FOX, Atlanta United versus Sporting Kansas City on FS1
Earliest Start in League History Culminates on Nov. 5 with the MLS Cup on FOX, Leading up to the FIFA Men’s World Cup Qatar 2022TM on Nov. 21
LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports announced plans to celebrate the start of Major League Soccer’s 27th season with an enhanced broadcast schedule showcasing 34 regular season matches throughout the year. The 34-match schedule, featuring seven games on FOX and 27 games on FS1, includes twice as many matches in prime time vs. last year and provides the biggest spotlight for MLS’s brightest stars and thrilling rivalries.
The 2022 MLS campaign kicks off Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 PM ET on FOX when the Portland Timbers host the new-look New England Revolution. Atlanta United’s home opener versus Sporting Kansas City will air live Sunday, Feb. 27, at 3:00 PM ET on FS1.
Play-by-play announcer John Strong and match analyst Stu Holden return to form FOX soccer’s lead broadcast booth and will call both ‘MLS is Back’ opening weekend matches.
Former United States National Team stars Alexi Lalas, Maurice Edu and Cobi Jones headline FOX Sports’ group of decorated analysts, in addition to former England defender Warren Barton. Renowned play-by-play broadcaster JP Dellacamera, who has called matches in each of the league’s previous 26 seasons, is back with Keith Costigan also calling matches throughout the year.
Rob Stone will serve as lead host for MLS studio coverage, while Dr. Joe Machnik returns as the network’s rules analyst to round out the FOX Sports soccer roster.
Every MLS match airing on FOX and FS1 will also be televised in Spanish on FOX Deportes.
FOX Deportes’ premier talent lineup this MLS season is led by announcers John Laguna and Rodolfo Landeros, alongside former Mexican National Team members Claudio Suarez, Mariano Trujillo and Martin “El Pulpo” Zuniga. 2015 MLS Cup champion Rodney Wallace joins the team as analyst, while announcers Jorge Perez Navarro and Alejandro Luna will also contribute to the network’s coverage this season.
MLS matches airing on FOX Sports can be live streamed via FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app on iOS and Android as well as connected devices, including Apple TV, Android TV, FireTV, Roku, Chromecast and Xbox One.
Additional MLS Cup Playoff matches will be added to FOX Sports’ postseason broadcast schedule following Decision Day on Sunday, Oct. 9.
2022 Regular Season Schedule Highlights:
FOX Sports will be on-site for Charlotte FC’s inaugural home match versus the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, March 5. Coverage from Bank of America Stadium begins live at 7:30 PM ET on FOX and in Spanish on the FOX Sports App. FOX Deportes’ will televise the match later in the evening at 10:30 PM ET.
On Saturday, April 9, at 7:30 PM ET, FOX and FOX Deportes will televise the first round of “El Tráfico,” a crosstown clash between rivals Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy.
From July 9 through July 17, FOX Sports will carry four matches in eight days as part of Heineken Rivalry Week, including Seattle Sounders FC versus Portland, Charlotte FC versus Nashville SC, LA Galaxy versus San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew versus FC Cincinnati.
For more information about FOX Sports’ MLS coverage, visit FOX Sports Press Pass and follow @FOXSportsPR and @FOXSoccer on Twitter. Users can receive real-time alerts on MLS and its teams by clicking “Favorite” on the new FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com.
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About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture business Big Ten Network, a licensing and commercial relationship with The Stars Group that created the FOX Bet sports betting platform and the FOX Bet Super 6 free-to-play game, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
