CHICAGO —- beIN SPORTS and the National Independent Soccer Association Thursday announced a partnership to air the 2020 fall championship tournament from Sept. 21-Oct. 2.
The announcement is the first broadcast partnership for NISA.
Games will be aired in the U.S. and Canada on beIN SPORTS XTRA – the network’s free, 24/7 English-language live sports channel.
“This major broadcast partnership is big news for the fans of NISA soccer and for our growth as a league,” NISA commissioner John Prutch said in a comment. “beIN SPORTS is an iconic brand, and we’re fortunate that they share the same vision in NISA’s future as our Board of Governors. I want to thank everyone that’s been involved at NISA, as well as the team at beIN SPORTS for making this happen.”
The tournament schedule will offer doubleheaders on consecutive days with matches set for 5 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET, leading up to the Oct. 2 championship match. The fall champion will host next year’s spring champion for the 2020-21 league championship.
“We are thrilled to offer this latest soccer league to our fan base and help grow the world’s most popular sport in the U.S.,” said Antonio Briceño, beIN SPORTS managing director for North America. “NISA is packed with exciting local rivalries that now can reach the thousands of soccer fans watching beIN SPORTS XTRA from the comfort of their home.”
Soccer fans can watch all the action from their TV, mobile device or tablet on beIN SPORTS XTRA, available in the U.S. and Canada on The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus (1163), and XUMO TV (746), also in the U.S. on Pluto TV, Redbox, Tivo, and over-the-air stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas – Fort Worth, Houston, San Jose – San Francisco – Oakland, Atlanta, Miami – Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Hartford, Columbus, Las Vegas, and Austin, among others.
Select matches also will air on the network’s streaming platform, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, available in the U.S. to authenticated subscribers via traditional and OTT providers including Charter, Dish, SlingTV, Verizon Fios, Cox, FuboTV, Liberty, Fanatiz, Mediacom, RCN, Atlantic Broadband, VIDGO, and Claro TV, among others.
Eight clubs will compete in tournament including the Cosmos, New Amsterdam FC, Cal United Strikers, Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC, Los Angeles Force, Michigan Stars and Oakland Roots.
“beIN SPORTS is a premier destination for must-watch soccer programming in the U.S. and around the world,” NISA Chief Operating Officer Brian Melekian said in a statement. “NISA is a great fit for a great network, and we could not be more excited to begin this partnership.”
