Fox Sports Remains Positive on 2018 World Cup After USMNT Crashes Out of Qualifying

Owner of the American English-language rights of Russia 2018 isn’t changing its coverage of the event

Following last night’s loss to Trinidad and Tobago in the final night of CONCACAF qualifying, the U.S. Men’s National Team will be left out of the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

It’s a disastrous turn of events for all involved in the sport of soccer in the U.S. That includes its broadcasters, most notably Fox Sports, which paid between $450 million and $500 million dollars for the rights to the next two World Cup finals in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022).

This morning, the network is remaining positive, issuing an official statement that last night’s results “do not change Fox Sports’ passion for the world’s biggest sporting event.”

At an event in New York City two weeks, Fox Sports said the 2018 World Cup will be “the largest production in the network’s 24-year history,” committing to 350 hours of World Cup programming.

MORE: Fox Sports’ 2018 FIFA World Cup Will Be the ‘Largest Production in the Network’s 24-Year History’

It’s certain that little will change. The network is still expected to bring more individual World Cup matches to broadcast television than for the last four World Cups combined.

Here’s today’s statement in full:

“Last night’s World Cup qualifying results do not change Fox Sports’ passion for the world’s biggest sporting event. While the U.S. was eliminated, the biggest stars in the world from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo stamped their tickets to Russia on the same day and will battle teams ranging from Mexico to England that have massive fan bases in America. The World Cup is the greatest sporting event on earth that changes the world for one month every four years, and Fox Sports remains steadfast in our commitment of bringing the games to America for the first time in 2018 and will continue to support the U.S. Soccer Federation as they look ahead to the 2022 World Cup.”