United States-Mexico Winner-Take-All Playoff Starts FOX Sports on ROAD TO RUSSIA

FOX Sports has secured multi-platform media rights to the CONCACAF CUP, a one match, winner-take-all playoff between the United States and Mexico determining which nation represents the region in the prestigious 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The showdown marks the beginning of FOX Sports’ Road to Russia, and the network’s coverage of FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018™. Every match featuring the U.S. Men’s National Team between the CONCACAF CUP and FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018™ are mile markers as FOX Sports’ prepares to cover the massive event on June 14, 2018, 1000 days from tomorrow.

To celebrate the 1000 days to kick-off milestone, FIFA and the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ Local Organizing Committee tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 18) unveil a 1000 day countdown clock in Moscow’s Red Square and host an international under-16 soccer tournament featuring Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia.

The epic U.S.-Mexico match airs live in prime time on FS1 on Saturday, Oct. 10 from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and is also available via the FOX Sports GO app and online at FOXSportsGO.com. A special 90-minute pregame show on FS1 begins at 8:00 PM ET, live from two sets at what is expected to be a raucous, sold-out Rose Bowl. Rob Stone hosts, with analysis from a team of accomplished former world-class players including U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda; future Hall of Famer Landon Donovan; former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel; former Mexican national Mariano Trujillo; reporter Julie Stewart-Binks; and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl.

Play-by-play announcer John Strong calls the match, scheduled for a 9:30 PM ET kickoff, with analysis from former USMNT midfielder Stu Holden. Wahl reports during the match from the U.S. sideline, with Francisco X. Rivera reporting on the Mexican side.
On the Spanish-language side, FOX Deportes will feature special segments live from the Rose Bowl on its flagship soccer program LA ULTIMA PALABRA with former Mexican National team captain Alberto Garcia Aspe while Ruben Rodriguez provides up-to-the minute information for CENTRAL FOX, the leading sports news show. FOX DEPORTES EN VIVO, the network’s news magazine show will broadcast a special show from outside the stadium prior to the match.

Two years ago, CONCACAF split the region’s berth to the Confederations Cup between two editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, assuring that both editions in a four-year cycle have the same importance from a competitive perspective. The USMNT qualified for the CONCACAF CUP with its 2013 Gold Cup championship, while Mexico was able to capture the tournament this summer to set up next month’s showdown in Pasadena.