FOX Sports is preparing to broadcast UEFA EURO 2024 and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 over the summer on linear television, but it will also include robust digital coverage as part of its overall content strategy. The company announced that it will be adding former Jamaica National Team and Leicester City star Wes Morgan to its talent roster for the tournament on FOX SOCCER NOW, which will be broadcasting across all social media live streaming platforms for the first time – Facebook, TikTok, X and YouTube – in addition to the FOX Sports app. Joining Morgan on the program is former United States Men’s National Team defender Jimmy Conrad and Colombia National Team midfielder Melissa Ortiz.
The program will include commentary and analysis in real time from Morgan, Conrad and Ortiz with the roster of FOX Sports broadcasters covering the tournaments in the United States and Germany. Every edition of the program will utilize the network’s in-stadium feeds to watch different players and teams as they prepare for matches. Following the conclusion of the matches, postgame shows will feature highlights of key plays, goals and celebrations, along with reaction and analysis.
“Jimmy and Melissa have incredible chemistry together and the proven ability to make you smarter about soccer while also making you laugh at the same time,” Nick Rago, executive director, digital, at FOX Sports, said in a statement. “They join our newest star, Wes Morgan, who brings the experience of two Copa América tournaments with Team Jamaica while simultaneously earning an esteemed career in the EPL. Add into the daily mix top experts from the television desk and you have a whole lot of fun live across our social platforms every day throughout the run of the tournaments.”
Digital coverage will emanate from the new state-of-the-art digital studio in Los Angeles that commenced operations last June. Furthermore, the company is introducing vertical live streaming of FOX SOCCER NOW on Facebook and TikTok for the first time, a new viewing functionality for consumers utilizing mobile devices. FOX Sports will also provide five-minute in-match previews and live pregame and postgame shows on social media, along with Q&As with FOX Soccer personalities and online giveaways.
“Between the two iconic tournaments, there will be more live soccer on our air this summer than ever before, and our FOX Sports digital coverage is engineered to keep fans engaged nonstop,” Michael Bucklin, senior vice president, digital, at FOX Sports, said in a statement. “We’re expanding our award-winning FOX SOCCER NOW franchise to reach the widest audience yet and are taking an innovative approach to our coverage to serve the evolving preferences of soccer fans.”
Additional coverage of the tournaments will come through reporting, features and analysis from FOX Soccer insiders, including Doug McIntyre, Laken Litman and Martin Rogers. McIntyre and Litman will be situated in the stadium for all U.S. Men’s National Team games during the competition, whereas Rogers will be in Germany to cover UEFA EURO 2024. Insider content will be disseminated on FOX Sports digital platforms throughout the tournaments, and there will also be articles at the conclusion of each day within the tournament to recap the action and preview what is to come.
Alexi Lalas, FOX Sports’ lead studio analyst for UEFA EURO 2024 and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024, will record new episodes of his podcast Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union every day throughout the proceedings alongside partner David Mosse. The show will present listeners with genuine conversations, interviews with players and coaches and listener commentary through the program’s hotline.
