NewsWhere Can You Watch The 2022 FIFA World Cup in the USA?

Where Can You Watch The 2022 FIFA World Cup in the USA?

people playing soccer on green field during daytime
Photo by Maxim Hopman

Most people think of the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), or National Hockey League (NHL) when asked about American sports. However, for the next six weeks, a large portion of the American sports-loving public will be fixated on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, soccer’s biggest and most prestigious international tournament.

The FIFA World Cup has run every four years since the inaugural event in Uruguay in 1930. It did not occur in 1942 or 1946 due to World War II, which is understandable. The United States reached the semi-finals in 1930, losing 6-1 to the eventual losing finalists, Argentina. Between 1954-1986, the USA failed to qualify for the World Cup, but except for 2018, the USA has been ever present at the finals since Italia 90.

How Are The United States Expected to Perform at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Head coach Gregg Berhalter‘s 26-man squad has the youngest average age of any of the 32 teams competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar; only three of Berhalter’s squad are aged 30 or over, leading many pundits to state this could be a World Cup too soon for the talented roster of youngsters. The various websites offering sports betting in Texas tend to agree, with most pricing the USA as the 14th favorite to bring home the famous Jules Rimet Trophy in late December.

Berhalter has some exceptional players to work with, players that could cause a significant upset in the group stages. The USA is in Group B alongside Iran, Wales, and England, making some exciting match-ups. The USA has every chance of progressing from the group, probably alongside old allies England.

Unlike previous World Cups, where the USA head coach did not have many players outside of Major League Soccer (MLS) to choose from, Berhalter has somewhat of an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. Six of his squad play in the English Premier League, while another eight compete in Europe’s top-tier leagues. 

Look out for the likes of Sergino Dest, a talented fullback that plays for Italian giants AC Milan. Then there is the midfield duo of Tyler Adams and Brendon Aaronson, who both signed with Premier League outfit Leeds United in the summer. Berhalter named 23-year-old combative Adams as the team captain.

Pulling the strings up front are such luminaries as Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic and Borrusia Dortmund attacker Giovanni Reyna, the latter being the son of Claudio Reyna, who played 112 times for the USMNT.

Where to Watch the USA in Action in the United States

Like the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it is Fox that has the broadcast rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in the United States. Fox paid an astronomical $425 million for the rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, out-bidding ESPN by some distance. Fox has promised to focus primarily on what is happening on the field instead of the various controversies surrounding Qatar’s involvement. However, David Neal, executive producer of Fox’s World Cup presentation, said they would talk about any off-the-field stories if it affects the tournament.

“If a story affects the field of play, if it affects the competition in the tournament, we will cover it fully. If it doesn’t, if it’s ancillary to the tournament, if it has to do with the construction of the venues or what have you, we’re going to leave that to other entities to cover. Our focus is entirely on the 64-game tournament.”

USA is in action against Wales at 12:00 ET on November 21. They then take on much-fancied England at 12:00 ET on November 25, wrapping up the Group Stage fixtures at 12:00 ET on November 29 against arch-rivals Iran. 

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