ESPN's coverage of the first FIFA International Match Week in 2016 will culminate Tuesday, March 29, with a U.S. National Soccer Team doubleheader on ESPN2 and WatchESPN - U.S. Men's National Team vs. Guatemala at 7 p.m. ET and U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team vs. Colombia at 9:20 p.m.
Ian Darke, ESPN's lead soccer voice, analyst Taylor Twellman and sideline reporter Mónica González will handle commentary for the
USA vs. Guatemala, the second leg of a pair of semifinal round World Cup Qualifying matches, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Following the
USA senior team's match, Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno will call the match between
USA and Colombia Under-23 teams - the second in a home and away qualifying series for the 2016 Olympic Qualifying playoff at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Bob Ley (host) and studio analyst Kasey Keller will be on-site in Columbus for pre-and post-game
SPORTSCENTER segments, as well as halftime and studio programming in-between the World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches.
Highlights:
Jon Champion (play-by-play) and Twellman will call the Italy vs. Spain friendly Thursday, March 24, on
ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. Ricardo Ortiz and Andrés Agulla will provide Spanish-language commentary on
ESPN Deportes;
Slovakia vs. Latvia on
ESPN Deportes, Friday at 3:30 p.m., with commentators Robert Sierra (play-by-play) and Barak Fever;
On Saturday, March 26: Champion and Twellman will call 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany vs. England on
ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m., while Fernando Palomo (play-by-play) and Tato Noriega will provide Spanish-language commentary on
ESPN Deportes;
Tuesday, March 29: Champion and analyst Craig Burley will call Germany vs. Italy on
ESPN2 and WatchESPN at 2:30 p.m.;
Each FIFA international match day,
ESPN FC (ESPNEWS, 6 p.m. weekdays / ESPN2, 12 a.m. Sunday) will air extensive highlights from the day's action across the world focusing on 2018
FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING and international friendlies. The program will also air halftime and post-match editions during select match telecasts;
ESPNFC.com: Reporter Doug McIntyre will cover the U.S. Men's National Team during the team's camp in Miami. Jeff Carlisle will travel and cover the team in Guatemala City on Friday, March 25, while McIntyre will be in Columbus. Both writers will provide match previews, post-match stories, live chats during the matches and player ratings.
Schedule:
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Event |
Network(s) |
| Thu, Mar 24 |
1 p.m. |
Spain vs. Croatia (U-21 Euro Qualifiers) |
ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 |
| |
3:30 p.m. |
Italy vs. Spain (Friendly) |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| |
3:45 p.m. |
Czech Republic vs. Scotland (Friendly) |
ESPN3 |
| Fri, Mar 25 |
3:30 p.m. |
Slovakia vs. Latvia (Friendly) |
ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 |
| Sat, Mar 26 |
12 p.m. |
Russia vs. Lithuania (Friendly) |
ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 |
| |
12:30 p.m. |
Austria vs. Albania (Friendly) |
ESPN3 |
| |
3:30 p.m. |
Germany vs. England (Friendly) |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Tue, Mar 29 |
2:30 p.m. |
Austria vs. Turkey (Friendly) |
ESPN3 |
| |
2:30 p.m. |
Germany vs. Italy (Friendly) |
ESPN2, WatchESPN |
| |
3 p.m. |
Scotland vs. Denmark (Friendly) |
ESPN3 |
| |
3 p.m. |
France vs. Russia (Friendly) |
ESPN3 |
| |
7 p.m. |
USA vs. Guatemala (FIFA World Cup Qualifier) |
ESPN2, WatchESPN |
| |
9:20 p.m. |
USA U-23 vs. Colombia (2016 Olympics Qualifier) |
ESPN2, WatchESPN |
**All matches and times subject to change
