[washingtonismoney]

Here in the USA, the Spanish language channels picked up the Mexico vs Honduras game (for the ratings, for fear of backlash from a large passionate and powerful group, or whatever).  A game which didn't even mean anything to Mexico's World Cup chances BTW.

Meanwhile, at the very same time (per FIFA's normal policy for final games in a stage), the USA vs T&T game was left to some network I had never heard of even though the USA needed a result to clinch a spot for Russia 2018.  Fox, ABC, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, ESPN, ESPN2 all regulars in soccer coverage skipped the event to show...baseball, preseason NBA, preseason NHL, etc. etc.  None of those broadcasting groups feared some massive USMNT fanbase backlash and/or expected anyone to watch.

Those broadcasting choices say a lot about USA Soccer and the popularity of non-USMNT soccer here in the USA.

No, I'm trying to tell you that that's not how it works. The home team owns the broadcast rights for both teams. It sold the rights to BeIn Sports. ESPN would've loved to have the game; it went all out on the Panama game and then covered the loss extensively. I'm sure Fox would've loved it too. But BeIn Sports -- a network owned by wealthy Qataris -- is trying to establish itself and paid way over the odds for the rights to the U.S.'s away games.

[washingtonismoney]

Here in the USA, the Spanish language channels picked up the Mexico vs Honduras game (for the ratings, for fear of backlash from a large passionate and powerful group, or whatever).  A game which didn't even mean anything to Mexico's World Cup chances BTW.

Meanwhile, at the very same time (per FIFA's normal policy for final games in a stage), the USA vs T&T game was left to some network I had never heard of even though the USA needed a result to clinch a spot for Russia 2018.  Fox, ABC, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, ESPN, ESPN2 all regulars in soccer coverage skipped the event to show...baseball, preseason NBA, preseason NHL, etc. etc.  None of those broadcasting groups feared some massive USMNT fanbase backlash and/or expected anyone to watch.

Those broadcasting choices say a lot about USA Soccer and the popularity of non-USMNT soccer here in the USA.

No, I'm trying to tell you that that's not how it works. The home team owns the broadcast rights for both teams. It sold the rights to BeIn Sports. ESPN would've loved to have the game; it went all out on the Panama game and then covered the loss extensively. I'm sure Fox would've loved it too. But BeIn Sports -- a network owned by wealthy Qataris -- is trying to establish itself and paid way over the odds for the rights to the U.S.'s away games.