With the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 set to kick off on July 20, FOX Sports, America’s English-language television home for the tournament, hosted a power panel at The Paley Center for Media in New York where members of the network’s broadcast team, including Carli Lloyd, Karina LeBlanc, Alexi Lalas, Jenny Taft and Executive Producer David Neal, shared a sneak peek on plans for the world’s greatest sporting event. If the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) brings it home, it will be the third consecutive World Cup title for the U.S., which the panel agreed makes for a high probability that viewers watching at home this summer could witness history in the making. With the growth of women’s soccer in our country, viewership and interest has surged and the USWNT figure to draw amazing audiences once again with two-of-their three group stage games slated to air on FOX in primetime.
Karina LeBlanc – Legendary Goalie, 5-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Veteran, FOX Sports Soccer Analyst
AT 18, YOU WERE REPRESENTING YOUR COUNTRY ON THE BIGGEST STAGE – WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES WITH THAT MOMENT AND YOUR EVOLUTION WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM TO NOW?
LEBLANC: I first played for Canada in the 1999 World Cup and I remember it felt like a dream. That World Cup culminated with the iconic moment when [Brandi] Chastain scored that unforgettable goal and to look back at how far the game has come since then, just speaks volumes. I remember looking into the stands and seeing fans wearing their national team jerseys, and it was then that I knew the game was always destined for greatness. For me, it starts with making an impact at home around the women’s game, and then bringing that impact to the global stage. It’s all about that legacy piece of leaving it better than when you got into it – the future is so exciting.
AS A WORLD CUP CHAMPION WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORLD CUP – HOW HAS IT PLAYED A ROLE IN YOUR CAREER OVER THE YEARS?
LLOYD: My first World Cup in 2007 in Beijing, you drove around on the bus, which was wrapped with World Cup logos and sponsors, but you didn’t really feel like you were at a World Cup. The stadiums were semi-packed with fans. It grew with the World Cup in Germany in 2011, but I still didn’t feel that vibe and all-around excitement we see today. In 2015, we won the whole thing and FOX comes on board with their coverage from Vancouver, which looking back at those combined, really sprung things forward and led to this explosion in fandom and support. In 2019, it keeps growing and getting better and better. I’m excited for this World Cup, and while I’m not on the field for this one, I’m thrilled this edition is shaping up to be the biggest and most epic – because that is what all the women deserve. Young girls watching the 2023 squad compete this summer, will be like the 1999 team for us – it just keeps getting better and I’m proud to be a part of the FOX Sports team with their continued commitment to serving as trusted steward’s for the women’s game on it’s grandest stage.
WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD CUP MAKES IT STAND OUT FROM ALL THE REST?
NEAL: Comparative equation for me – Olympics have grown exponentially there are now 36 sports in the summer games and it’s a massive undertaking. I was a producer on nine of them for NBC. The World Cup, in my opinion, surpasses it. With the Olympics, each day you have to educate the audience on what’s on. There’s a complete reset. The World Cup is a solid month of one sport of the world’s most popular sport being played at the highest level.
Carli Lloyd – US Soccer Legend; FOX Sports Soccer Analyst
WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE IN YOUR NEW ROLE AT FOX AND COVERING THE WORLD CUP?
LLOYD:. When I finished playing, I had no idea the avenues or where life would take me. I had the opportunity to try broadcasting with FOX Sports and I’m really glad it was something that took me out of my comfort zone. I always try to get myself in uncomfortable positions to learn and grow and be even better, so I went for it. I had eight straight working days working as an analyst with FOX Sports in Qatar last year for the men’s tournament and it was incredible, way different work than on the field. I was able watch and witness the World Cup Final in person, so I’m hoping that sets the stage from an excitement standpoint for what’s to come this summer with the Women’s World Cup.
David Neal – FOX Sports’ FIFA Women’s World Cup Executive Producer and VP of Production
HOW WILL THE TIME DIFFERENCE AFFECT THE COVERAGE
NEAL: FIFA is aware the U.S. is an enormous growth market for the sport, especially on the women’s side. We’re fortunate to have two of the three USWNT group stage matches starting in the heart of primetime in the U.S., beginning with the first one on July 21 at 9pm ET. We plan to make this tournament the easiest to find and watch with a record number of matches airing on FOX, so when you combine that with a chance to watch history unfold, we think fans will join us in watching the USWNT’s quest for glory Down Under. Our award-winning Women’s World Cup Now live streaming show on Twitter will also be back to make sure fans are covered from sunset to sunrise.
AS A BROADCASTER, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU ON THE TV FRONT AND GREATER APPRECIATION?
LLOYD: Being back in a team setting, this is a big team, and everyone has their role to fill. It’s amazing to be around great people that are uplifting, positive and welcomed me in from the start. In Qatar, I came out of the gate with limited experience just trying to hold on as fast as I could, while learning on the fly and getting better each day. Being a part of FOX Sports, everyone wants to learn and grow and that’s always what I’ve been about as a player.
FOR YOU TO COME BACK FOR THIS WORLD CUP, HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS WORLD CUP AND MANAGING IT ALL?
LEBLANC: When you’ve been playing in that team atmosphere and surrounded by people who are connected on that same bigger goal, you miss that when you retire. Being a part of the Portland Thorns, I get to be a part of that, but at a distance. The World Cup stands on its own as a lifetime experience. It’s the adrenaline rush for me. This game made me the woman I am today. I am so indebted to this game – for me, it’s an opportunity to share that passion with the world.
Jenny Taft – FOX Sports Host and Reporter
SHARE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LEAD AT FOX SPORTS AND WORKING WITH THIS TEAM?
TAFT: I get to work with incredible people and these amazing three women here today. It was fun to see these women learn so quickly and get into it and challenge yourself, me and others because that makes a better broadcast. It’s fun to see stars being made and the moments you create together when documenting a World Cup. The moments that go beyond kicking the ball, like the national anthems, you see how much those mean to these players representing their country and the tears, it gets me every single time.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT THE U.S. CAN TAKE THAT TROPHY HOME?
LLOYD: It’s always so hard to predict. 2015 we started a little rough and everyone said we wouldn’t make it out of the group stage. A couple yellow card suspensions, we figured it out rest of the way. 2019, again a really small margin to win. The U.S. are one of the favorites of course and they have the talent and depth, but there are so many unknowns. I don’t know from a mental capacity, when you get to a World Cup, it is so incredibly hard to lift that trophy after seven games. There’s so much you have to navigate and so many unknowns and unexpected things that come your way. I don’t know what some of the players will do in the pressure filled moments, particularly with so many teams in contention.
SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE GROWTH OF THE U.S. WORLD CUP IN THIS COUNTRY?
TAFT: There’s a reason why the U.S. is so good and it’s not just the starting 11. The depth that we have from a cultural perspective, the amount of money and resources, the laws we put into place have all come together to give us an incredible head start on the women’s side. The amazing thing about the World Cup is seeing some of these names of people we don’t know rise up and giving them that opportunity, which changes their lives. Now watching this team across multiple generations and wanting to be there – we all stand on the shoulders of others. What they have built is not only more opportunity, but more expectation, and this generation is more able to withstand and embrace the opportunity and expectation we have.
As an executive in the entertainment business, over the last 10 years Michelle Edgar has helped artists build out their brands and accelerate their reach
