For the first time ever, ESPN+ will now implement a quick show for the FA Cup. The new show debuts on Saturday, January 7 for matches at 10 am ET. The coverage of the weekend will consist of the matches of the third round of the competition. Viewers can begin accessing the show at 9:50 am ET.
The 20 teams from the Premier League and all the teams from the EFL Championship enter the tournament in the third round. The 44 teams in these leagues join 20 other lower-tier clubs at this stage. Prize money for the winning teams is around $120,000 for the third round matches.
The competition has an immense history
The FA Cup is an annual knockout competition for English/Welsh football clubs. It is widely regarded as the best knockout tournament in England and Wales. Introduced in 1871, the FA Cup is also the oldest national football competition in the world.
Watch the FA Cup Whiparound on ESPN+
Includes: FA Cup, LaLiga, Championship, MLS and more
Watch now
Liverpool are currently the reigning champions of the competition after beating rivals Chelsea on penalties in May. Arsenal have amassed the most FA Cup trophies in history with 14. The Gunners previously won four cup titles between 2014 and 2020.
ESPN+ FA Cup show lets US fans watch 10 games at once
ESPN+’s debut coverage of FA Cup matches comes at the perfect time. There are 10 games scheduled to be played simultaneously at the 10 am time slot on Saturday, January 7. In between these matches there are several matches with clubs from the Premier League. Fulham, Brighton & Hove, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest will play at the moment.
The new coverage from ESPN’s streaming service is similar to what Paramount+ has done during the UEFA Champions League and Europa League group stages. The CBS Sports Golazo Show has become very popular among soccer fans. It allows viewers to catch all the important action, without missing a target.
ESPN has had the rights to broadcast the FA Cup since the 2018-19 season. The American sports media giant currently broadcasts every game in the competition on ESPN+.
