Women’s World Cup scheduling controversy has silver lining for U.S. soccer fans
Many have complained about three major finals being held on the same day, but Sunday could be huge for keeping U.S. soccer fans hooked.
The United States is poised to make soccer history on Sunday.
It’s not often you can read that sentence, but it’s true. The crowded calendar of major tournaments this summer have given us three championship games contested on the same day. Two of those three title matches will feature the United States.
In the morning (afternoon in France), the Americans can win a fourth Women’s World Cup when they take on the Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France. It would also mark back-to-back world championships for Alex Morgan and her teammates should the USWNT win the game.
In the evening, the U.S. men’s team, after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, have a shot a redemption at Chicago’s Soldier Field with a victory against rivals Mexico to win a second straight Gold Cup, the highest honor for national teams in the North/Central American and Caribbean region. Christian Pulisic, the best player on this U.S. side, has a chance at his first major international trophy.
Nestled in between those two massive title games is the Copa America final, which will be played in the afternoon in Rio de Janeiro pitting host nation Brazil and Cinderella side Peru. That, too, is a game worth watching.
Critics, including U.S. star Megan Rapinoe, have not been happy with FIFA’s lack of scheduling coordination with the world’s other confederations. (It is worth noting that the Africa Cup of Nations is also holding their tournament this month.) They say having three finals on the same day devalues the Women’s World Cup and that it would never happen in the case of the men’s tournament. Rapinoe called it “ridiculous and disappointing.”
While Rapinoe has a point, the chance of having two U.S. teams play a big game on the same day will be a boon for soccer in this country. These two games, played many hours apart, will not fracture the audience.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1146648178684395520
If anything, it will boost eyeballs for both matches. The women’s team, already very successful, has mesmerized the country once again as they do every four years. The men’s team, in the process of rebuilding, has a chance to get those fair weather fans to jump back on the bandwagon.
For those looking to watch all three games, you will need to pace yourself. The Women’s World Cup final will start at 11 a.m. ET on Fox, followed by the Copa America final at 3 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Gold Cup final at 9 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.
Those paid to worry about TV ratings aren’t worried.
“I really am a believer in the rising tide lifts all ships,” David Neal, executive producer of Fox’s World Cup coverage, told The Chicago Tribune. “Because of the timing of them, it’s probably not going to hurt anybody.”
USWNT’s success leads to ESPN decision to broadcast NWSL. dark. Next
The Copa America, while not involving the United States, remains a chance for this country’s large Hispanic community to also enjoy a major event. The largely Spanish-speaking continent will certainly adopt Peru as their team as the South Americans look to make history against the five-time world champions.
For the United States, fresh off celebrating Independence Day, there could be many more fireworks come Sunday. Scheduling three finals on the same day isn’t ideal. In this case, however, American fans could see an ideal end to what has been four phenomenal weeks of amazing soccer played by two U.S. teams across two continents.