FOX Sports Welcomes Jacqui Oatley as New FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Play-By-Play Announcer
LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, today announces renowned soccer commentator Jacqui Oatley will join the network’s FIFA World Cup™ broadcast team as a new play-by-play announcer for this year’s tournament.
Oatley brings a wealth of FIFA World Cup™ experience to FOX Sports’ play-by-play roster. She spent summer 2019 in France calling FIFA World Cup™ matches for the host broadcaster’s world feed. In 2018, she served as a host for ITV’s FIFA World Cup™ coverage in Russia. Oatley also hosted the BBC’s 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ coverage in Canada and provided play-by-play commentary for BBC Radio 5 Live on several matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.
Oatley is widely heralded for her 20 years in broadcasting and making history as a soccer commentator. In 2005, she became the first woman to call a match on British network radio and she continued making history in 2007 when she became the first female commentator on the BBC One’s flagship show, “Match of the Day.” Most recently, she has commentated on the UEFA Champions League and is currently lead play-by-play announcer for Sky Sports’ Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage. She also calls Premier League matches for Sky Sports and the world feed.
“I’m so excited to be joining FOX Sports at this year’s World Cup,” said Oatley. “This will be my 16th major football tournament, and I’ve loved every minute of working on those events around the world. Teaming up with FOX Sports will be a new experience for me, and I’ve been told by various colleagues what a brilliant group of people they are to work with.”
David Neal, Executive Producer of FIFA World Cup™ on FOX and Vice President of Production for FOX Sports, welcomed Oatley as a distinguished addition to the broadcast team.
“Jacqui’s passion for the game and experience in calling matches at the highest level is truly remarkable and as we began evaluating play-by-play announcers, we knew we wanted Jacqui to be part of our team,” said Neal. “We’re thrilled to have Jacqui joining FOX Sports in Qatar and look forward to hearing her insights when the tournament begins on Monday, November 21.”
Oatley joins returning lead play-by-play announcer John Strong as FOX Sports commentators for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. New and returning broadcasters joining FOX Sports at this year’s World Cup will be unveiled in the coming weeks.