ESPN has secured the rights to broadcast England's prestigious FA Cup in the United States through 2028, following a recent four-year extension agreement with England's Football Association. The announcement of this deal was made on Tuesday morning.
Since 2018, ESPN has been the exclusive carrier of the FA Cup tournament. As part of the extended agreement, ESPN will stream 79 matches per season exclusively on ESPN+, in addition to broadcasting the season-opening FA Community Shield.
The FA Cup, a competition with a rich history spanning 143 years, is recognized as the longest-running national knockout soccer tournament globally. It attracts around 700 teams from various levels of English football, ranging from the elite Premier League clubs to non-professional teams.
This season's FA Cup final is set to take place on Saturday at London's iconic Wembley Stadium. The final will feature a high-stakes clash between Premier League champions Manchester City and their arch-rivals Manchester United. Notably, this will be the second consecutive year that these two powerhouse clubs face off in the final, with City emerging victorious in last year's encounter with a 2-1 win. The victory came on the heels of Manchester City clinching their third consecutive Premier League title and subsequently securing their first-ever Champions League trophy.
Manchester City's recent triumph in the Premier League marked a historic achievement, as they became the first team to win the league title for four consecutive seasons. This remarkable feat further solidified their status as a dominant force in English football.
In addition to the FA Cup, ESPN also holds the broadcasting rights for Germany and Spain's domestic knockout tournaments, which are available for streaming on ESPN+.
