CBC releases Under-20 World Cup broadcast schedule
CBC Sports
CBC unveiled its broadcast schedule for the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Thursday, with all of the tournament's 52 games being televised on the main network and CBC Country Canada.
In addition, all 52 games will be available online live and on-demand on CBC.ca.
David Edgar, right, is expected to anchor Canada's defence at this summer's Under-20 World Cup.
(Ermindo Armino/Associated Press)
This Saturday, Canada and Scotland play an exhibition match in Burnaby, B.C., that will be available live at CBC.ca (4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT).
CBC Television's broadcast schedule for the Under-20 World Cup begins with live coverage on the main network of the opening game of the tournament, featuring four-time winners Brazil against Poland on June 30 from Montreal. It will conclude with the final on July 22 in Toronto.
CBC will feature live coverage of all of Canada's games, beginning on July 1 with the team's first contest of the competition versus Chile.
In total, 41 of the 52 games will air live — 20 on CBC, 21 on CBC Country Canada.
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CBC will also broadcast the inaugural Soccer Day in Canada on July 8.
Special segments on grassroots soccer in Canada will be featured throughout the broadcast and will be headlined by an Under-20 World Cup live doubleheader with Portugal versus Gambia, followed by Canada versus Congo.
CBC's online coverage will also include tournament highlights, special features, team and star profiles, analysis, game summaries and comprehensive news and results.
Radio-Canada, CBC Radio and CBC Newsworld will also provide daily coverage. CBC is host broadcaster for the event, while Radio-Canada serves as host broadcaster for games held in Montreal.
"Soccer is back on CBC and will be remaining here for the long-term," said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC-TV Sports.
"CBC is committed to providing Canadians with coverage of the beautiful game that is second-to-none. Our comprehensive broadcast package for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on multiple platforms demonstrates this commitment, as well as CBC's dedication to growing the game of soccer across the country."
Comprehensive agreement
CBC/Radio-Canada reached a comprehensive programming agreement with FIFA, soccer's global governing body, last September for Canadian broadcasting rights for major FIFA events from 2007 to 2014.
The deal features the 2010 and 2014 World Cup soccer tournaments and also includes the 2007 and the 2011 women's World Cup competitions. The 2007 Under-20 World Cup kicks off CBC's new broadcast package with FIFA.
The Under-20 World Cup is the second-largest event staged by FIFA after the men's World Cup. Six cities across Canada — Victoria and Burnaby, B.C.; Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal — will stage games, with the final slated for Toronto's BMO Field.
The tournament is the soccer equivalent of the world junior hockey championship and has launched the careers of some of the sport's biggest names, including Diego Maradona, Michael Owen, Luis Figo and Romario.
