STORIES BY Christopher Harris
Inter Miami CF
/ today1.75 million watch Messi's debut for Inter Miami in MLS
The numbers are in for the Lionel Messi debut in MLS at Inter Miami. The game was watched by an audience of 1.75 million people across Spanish-language television in the United States. Friday night's Inter Miami versus Cruz Azul game was televised across Univision and TUDN. While the viewing number doesn't include how many watched […]
Leagues Cup
/ 4 days agoMLS with Messi and Leagues Cup aims to cash in on Latinos
Latinos in the United States represent a $1 trillion market in a country that has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population on the planet behind Mexico. So, it's no surprise that MLS is trying to cash in on Latinos with a combination of Messi and Leagues Cup. In its corner, MLS sits in the enviable position of […]
Apple TV
/ 11 days agoApple in talks with Bundesliga about media rights, sources say
Apple has held talks with Bundesliga executives regarding rights to the top-flight German league, sources familiar with the matter have told World Soccer Talk. Currently, ESPN has an exclusive rights deal with the Bundesliga through until the end of the 2025/26 season. ESPN's partnership with the Bundesliga, which began in 2020 as a streaming-only rights […]
Friendlies
/ 12 days agoManchester United summer tour to be televised to US viewers
The Manchester United summer tour is around the corner. It's all change for the Old Trafford club with a new goalkeeper on the way, the $70 million signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea, and raised expectations. To see the Red Devils in action, sources have told World Soccer Talk that almost all of the preseason […]
Chelsea
/ 13 days agoWrexham vs Chelsea and Man United to air on ESPN networks
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham AFC are returning to ESPN airwaves, sources have told World Soccer Talk. The Red Dragons are heading to the United States to play four friendlies this summer, and two of the games are live on ESPN networks. Tickets to those two televised matches, against Chelsea (sold out; Chapel Hill) […]
Commentators
/ 14 days agoMLS Season Pass is good news for American commentators
The launch of MLS Season Pass in February 2023 has been met with excitement from fans and commentators alike. The pass, which costs $14.99 per month, gives subscribers access to all MLS matches live and on-demand. This is a major boon for American commentators, who have long been limited in their opportunities to commentate on […]
FA Cup
/ 17 days agoFA Cup changes could be devastating to lower league clubs
This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast, titled FA Cup Changes, is presented by Sling. We discuss the radical changes that the Premier League are proposing for the FA Cup, including selling the rights to the competition outside the United Kingdom — and what that means for the world's oldest football competition, and the impact […]
World Soccer Talk
/ 19 days agoPublisher's note: Introducing our new comments experience
I am writing today to let you know we have launched a brand-new commenting system across the World Soccer Talk website, and I want to explain why and what it means for you. Previously, no registration was required to post a comment. While it helped make it as easy as possible to share feedback on […]
Leagues Cup
/ 24 days agoMLS Success Overly Dependent on Messi
This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast, titled MLS Success Overly Dependent on Messi, is presented by Sling. What does it say about MLS that Leagues Cup was unable to get a TV deal in Mexico? We discuss the breaking news from Mexico where the TV networks have thumbed their noses at the US-based Leagues […]
Commentators
/ 27 days agoJon Champion joins NBC's Premier League coverage
Legendary commentator Jon Champion has joined NBC Sports ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season, sources have confirmed to World Soccer Talk. Beginning August, Champion commentates the highest profile Premier League match every week in the Sunday 11:30am to 1:30pm ET timeslot. That key timeslot became available for Champion at a time of change for […]
Podcast
/ 28 days agoThe Saudi Arabia Effect and How It's Changing Soccer
As the richest league in the world, The Saudi Arabia Effect is having an impact on the world of soccer. We discuss the impact thus far. This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast is presented by Sling. In the last 12 months, Saudi Arabia has been working on trying to change sports as we […]
Leagues: MLS
/ 31 days agoUS Open Cup undermined by MLS
This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast on the topic of US Open Cup and MLS is presented by Sling. We discuss what the underlying reason is why MLS and MLSPA are trying to undermine the US Open Cup, the oldest soccer competition in the United States. Why are MLS, US Soccer and MLSPA […]
Gregg Berhalter
/ 38 days agoUS Soccer rehiring Berhalter shows lack of ambition
This episode of the World Soccer Talk podcast, on the topic of US Soccer rehiring Berhalter for the USMNT job, is presented by Sling. In the surreal world of US Soccer, the Federation has decided to re-hire Gregg Berhalter as the new US Men's National Team head coach. We break down the news, as well as […]
CBS Sports
/ 42 days agoCan CBS grow Serie A’s popularity in the US?
This episode of the World Soccer Talk podcast, entitled Can CBS grow Serie A’s popularity in the US, is presented by Sling. CBS Sports are coming off their best weekend ever with the UEFA Champions League Final coverage creating quite a stir across world media. At the same time, the news of Kate Abdo renewing her […]
Apple TV
/ 45 days agoMessi to MLS: Pros and cons of Inter Miami deal
This episode of the World Soccer Talk podcast, entitled Messi to MLS: winners and losers, is presented by Sling. In the biggest soccer story of the year, we break down the pros and cons of the Messi to MLS saga, and what it means for MLS Season Pass. Lionel Messi moving to Inter Miami changes […]
Commentators
/ 46 days agoNBC Sports name Joe Speight to call Premier League friendlies
World Soccer Talk can exclusively reveal that Joe Speight has been named as the lead commentator for the 2023 Premier League Summer Series. The highly acclaimed commentator, who has stepped in for NBC Sports several times this season, is also the host of Goal Rush, the popular Premier League whiparound show. NBC Sports’ Peter Drury […]
Apple TV
/ 47 days agoMessi to MLS would be linchpin to MLS Season Pass success
Let’s face it. MLS desperately needs Lionel Messi. At 36 years old later this month, this may be the last best chance for league officials to sign the Argentine superstar to a contract. If the World Cup winner goes to Saudi Arabia or returns to Barcelona, it may be too late for Messi to then […]
CBS Sports
/ 49 days agoChampions League Final coverage plans from CBS Sports
This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast about CBS Sports' UEFA Champions League Final coverage plans is presented by Sling. We preview CBS Sports' UEFA Champions League Final coverage plans and what viewers can expect. Plus we dive into Financial Fair Play (FFP), and whether Manchester City – if they win – will have […]
Leagues: MLS
/ 52 days agoMLS Season Pass statement from Apple
This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast about the MLS Season Pass statement from Apple is presented by Sling. This week, Apple finally broke its silence about MLS Season Pass. In its attempts to get soccer fans (and journalists) off Apple's backs who are asking probing questions about how the service is doing, the […]
Leagues: EPL
/ 53 days agoHow Michael Jordan and Seth Meyers helped NBC get the EPL
When World Soccer Talk recently interviewed NBC Sports executive Jon Miller who played a crucial role in helping the broadcaster sign the Premier League rights deal, we learned of the roles that basketball legend Michael Jordan and talk show host Seth Meyers played. Here's how Jon Miller, president of acquisitions and partnerships at NBC Sports, […]