ESPN is set to broadcast six preseason soccer matches on U.S. soil, showcasing European clubs such as Liverpool FC, Wrexham AFC, Leeds United and Sunderland AFC.
A Strategic Shift in Soccer Coverage
The games will be staged in five American cities — Nashville, New York City, Chicago, Tampa and Philadelphia — providing fans across the country with live action before the domestic season begins.
Broadcast Distribution and Language Options
Three of the fixtures will be shown on the flagship ESPN and ESPN2 feeds, while the remaining contests will be streamed exclusively through ESPN Unlimited. Spanish‑language viewers can tune in to ESPN Deportes for select matches.
The network has assembled a commentary team that includes play‑by‑play voices Adrian Healey and Mark Donaldson, alongside analysts Alejandro Moreno, Janusz Michallik and Rodrigo Fáez.
Strategic Context
Although ESPN has trimmed its overall soccer portfolio in recent years, it continues to hold rights to La Liga, the FA Cup, the USL and the NWSL, ensuring a steady stream of high‑profile content.
Other outlets such as CBS Sports Network and Fox Deportes will also carry preseason action, with CBS slated to debut its European coverage in August and Fox Deportes scheduled to air Chelsea‑Juventus on Aug. 5 and Leeds United‑Manchester United on Aug. 12.
The upcoming matches mark a clear effort to keep soccer prominent in ESPN’s programming slate despite the reduction in traditional broadcast slots.