FOX Sports Assembles Elite Broadcaster Lineup for 2021 MLS Season
Matthew McConaughey’s Austin FC Make MLS Debut vs. Will Ferrell’s LAFC on FOX and FOX Deportes
Network Presents Three Exclusive Matches Throughout Opening Weekend
Beginning Friday, April 16
LOS ANGELES – With the 26th season of Major League Soccer around the corner, FOX Sports today announces its elite broadcaster lineup for the 2021 regular season. Play-by-play announcer John Strong and analyst Stu Holden return as FOX Sports lead MLS game broadcasters, while host Rob Stone and analysts Alexi Lalas and Maurice Edu provide studio coverage throughout the season. Edu also contributes as a game analyst alongside JP Dellacamera. Cobi Jones serves as a game analyst and is joined by play-by-play announcer Adrian Garcia Marquez, while game analyst Warren Barton teams with play-by-play announcer Jake Zivin on the call during the season. Dr. Joe Machnik returns as the network’s rules analyst.
FOX Deportes’ game broadcasters include play-by-play announcers John Laguna, Rodolfo Landeros, Raoul “Pollo” Ortiz and Jorge Perez Navarro and analysts Mariano Trujillo, Martin “Pulpo” Zuñiga and Claudio Suarez. Host Giselle Zarur handles studio coverage alongside Laguna, Trujillo and Landeros throughout the season.
FOX Sports’ 2021 MLS slate features 32 regular season matches, including seven on FOX and 25 on FS1, with all 32 simulcast in Spanish on FOX Deportes. The network’s comprehensive schedule, featuring the league’s biggest stars and most intense rivalries, kicks off with three matches on opening weekend.
Opening Weekend Matchups:
- MLS action begins on Friday, April 16, as the 2020 MLS Western Conference champion Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United at 9:30 PM ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes
- Austin FC make their MLS debut vs. Carlos Vela and LAFC on Saturday, April 17, at
5:30 PM ET on FOX and FOX Deportes - On Sunday, April 18, the 2020 MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew host the Philadelphia Union at 5:30 PM ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes
Additional 2021 Regular Season Schedule Highlights:
- On Saturday, May 8, FOX and FOX Deportes broadcast the first 2021 installment of the El Trafico rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at 7:30 PM ET
- FOX and FOX Deportes televise the inaugural match at West End Stadium on Saturday, May 16, as FC Cincinnati host Inter Miami FC at 4:00 PM ET
- Heineken Rivalry Week:
- On Saturday, Aug. 21, the Crew take on the Sounders in a 2020 MLS Cup rematch live at 5:30 PM ET on FOX and FOX Deportes followed by a primetime edition of the New York Derby between the New York Red Bulls and NYCFC at 8:00 PM on FS1 and FOX Deportes
- The following weekend, FOX and FOX Deportes present another edition of El Trafico as LAFC host the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 PM ET, with the newest regional rivalry of Austin FC and FC Dallas taking center stage on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 8:00 PM ET on FS1 and FOX Deportes
The complete 2021 MLS schedule for FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes can be found here. All matches are live streamed on the new FOX Sports app.
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.
