As the excitement and anticipation builds for the CONCACAF CUP, a one-match winner-take-all playoff between Mexico and the United States on Saturday, Oct. 10, FS1 kicks off its coverage the night before, Friday, Oct. 9, with COUNTDOWN TO THE CONCACAF CUP (7:30 PM ET, FS1 & Fox Sports GO), an hour-long preview offering an in-depth look at the two teams in their quest to represent the region in the prestigious 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The Mexico-U.S. showdown marks the beginning of FOX Sports' Road to Russia and the network's coverage of FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018(TM).
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena provides the backdrop for COUNTDOWN TO THE CONCACAF CUP. Rob Stone hosts with comprehensive analysis from a formidable panel featuring U.S. Soccer Hall of Famers Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda as well as retired USMNT and Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel and former Mexican National Team defender Mariano Trujillo. Also contributing to the show are Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl and three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Fernando Fiore who makes his English-language television debut.
COUNTDOWN TO THE CONCACAF CUP looks at the storied rivalry between Mexico and the U.S. on and off the field, breaks down the key players and highlights the history of soccer at the venerable Rose Bowl. The program also features an exclusive interview with USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
In addition to COUNTDOWN TO THE CONCACAF CUP, FS1 readies fans in the week leading up to the big match by re-airing two classic Mexico-U.S. matchups: the high-scoring 2011 Gold Cup Final, which Mexico won, 4-2, in front of more than 93,000 fans at the Rose Bowl (Tuesday, Oct. 6 (3:00 PM ET); and the historic August 2012 friendly in which
USA beat Mexico, 1-0, for the first time on Mexico's home soil at Estadio Azteca (Wednesday, Oct. 7 (3:00 PM ET).
The Mexico-U.S. CONCACAF Cup match airs live in prime time on FS1 Saturday, Oct. 10 (9:30 PM ET) from what is expected to be a raucous, sold-out Rose Bowl and is also available via the
Fox Sports GO app and online at FOXSportsGO.com. Play-by-play announcer John Strong alls the match with analysis from former USMNT midfielder Stu Holden. Wahl reports from the U.S. sideline with Francisco X. Rivera reporting on the Mexican side.
A special 90-minute pregame show begins at 8:00 PM ET on FS1 live from two sets at the Rose Bowl. Stone hosts with analysis from Lalas, Wynalda, Friedel, Trujillo, Wahl and Julie Stewart-Binks. The team makes its predictions for the coveted berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia and examines Klinsmann's decision to name Brad Guzan the team's starting goalkeeper over 2014 World Cup hero Tim Howard, among other topics.
FS1 has partnered with Fathom Events to give the marquee Mexico-USA clash the big screen treatment with over 200 movie theaters across the country airing the game and the last 30 minutes of the extensive pregame show live.
Two years ago, CONCACAF split the region's berth to the Confederations Cup between two editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, assuring that both editions in a four-year cycle have the same importance from a competitive perspective. The USMNT qualified for the CONCACAF Cup with its 2013 Gold Cup championship, while Mexico was able to capture the tournament this summer to set up next month's showdown in Pasadena.
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