ESPN may still be reeling from losing the rights to the UEFA Champions League, but that isn't stopping it from building up its collection of soccer offerings.
According to EPL Talk, ESPN has added the English Premier League and will show up to two matches a week, starting next week. The network initially made some waves when it secured rights to EPL games in England, a move that was part of ESPN's plan to launch an ESPN UK channel, but now ESPN appears set to show EPL games here in the United States.
The first of those games? The Aug. 15th clash between Chelsea and Hull City, which happens to be Jozy Altidore's new club. While it remains unclear whether Altidore will have a work permit in time to play in that match, the news of EPL games on ESPN is big for American soccer fans considering many more fans have access to ESPN than to Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports, the two channels that previously showed EPL matches.
ESPN has yet to confirm the deal, but EPL Talk has usually been spot-on when it comes to EPL broadcasting news. (UPDATE-Sources tell me no deal is finalized yet, but that talks are underway. In other words, you might want to hold off on the celebration until something official is announced.)
Here are some more stories to get your day going:
Cunningham leads FC Dallas past Houston
FC Dallas looks to be awakening and striker Jeff Cunningham is helping lead the way.
Fresh from a four-goal performance last week, Cunningham delivered the game-winning goal on Thursday night as FC Dallas posted a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo.
The victory, Dallas' third in five matches, suddenly has Cunningham's club closing in on the teams atop the Western Conference, while it also leaves the Dynamo looking for answers after dropping its third loss in five matches.
For those of you who missed Cunningham's goal, here it is:
DirecTV sets up mun2
For those of you with DirecTV who were wondering how you would be able to watch USA-Mexico next week, the satellite company has taken the guesswork out of the process by moving mun2 to channel 203 a week before the World Cup qualifier.
Telemundo is offering mun2 for free to all cable and satellite providers on Aug. 12 in order to give as many fans access to the USA-Mexico match as possible. DirecTV took the step move the network well in advance so subscribers would be able to find the channel without a problem.
Dempsey and Johnson help Fulham roll
Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson both recorded assists to help Fulham cruise to a 3-0 victoryagainst FK Vetra on Thursday.
The victory earned Fulham a LONG trip through Russia to face Amkar after the Europa League Playoff Round draw was held early Friday. Amkar is 4,500 miles from London.
USMNT roster vs. Mexico to be named today
Those of you wondering when the USA roster for the qualifier for Mexico will be named, your wait should end today.
The U.S. national team is expected to reveal its roster for the match at some point today, with Thursday night's Houston-FC Dallas match and Fulham Europa League match causing U.S. coach Bob Bradley to hold off the announcement for one more day.
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What do you think of the news? Excited at the prospects of ESPN showing EPL matches? Think FC Dallas is for real? Happy to see Eddie Johnson contributing for Fulham?
Share your thoughts below.