The biggest sporting event in the world got bumped to a different time of year like a long-awaited dental appointment getting kicked down the road. The Men’s World Cup is usually played in the summer months of June and July. However, due to logistics and average temperatures in the host country of Qatar, the event was moved by FIFA— soccer’s international governing body— to this November and December. The “Copa Mundial” group-play matches begin this Sunday.
Team USA, led by Christian “Captain America” Pulisic and the recently selected men’s national team roster, begin its World Cup play next week (Monday, November 21) when it faces Wales and star forward/LA Galaxy player Gareth Bale as part of “Group B” play.
Then on Friday, November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving), Team USA plays the “Three Lions”— Team England in another group play match. Teams USA and England are two teams with the biggest viewership draws and marquee players facing off in the first week of the tournament.
November 25th is a date that has been circled by sports fans and TV executives everywhere. It is novel ground to have World Cup matches scheduled at the same time as long traditional college football games over Thanksgiving weekend, but here we are.
Looking a little closer, Team USA and Team England will face off at 2pm ET on Friday November 25th and the game will be aired in North America on FOX. The World Cup will have four matches scheduled on Friday November 25 – with the first one airing at 5:00am ET (due to the time difference with Qatar).