Additional content from ESPN Fantasy Sports, ESPN Mobile debuts for the 2010 World Cup Draw
ESPN today has launched the first phase of its global online destination for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The site — www.ESPNsoccernet.com/WorldCup — is the home for news, features and coverage on the World Cup for ESPN.com, ESPNsoccernet.com and ESPNdeportes.com, providing a single destination with a global perspective in language (World Cup news and information in English and Spanish), terminology (English U.S. and English Global) and content authentic to users who visit. Live digital coverage starts this Friday, Dec. 4 with the 2010 World Cup Draw in Cape Town, airing live from 12-2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com.
ESPN World Cup Microsite
At launch, the microsite will feature content and tools following every moment of the Draw. Soccer fans from around the world will have access to up-to-the-minute news, highlights and analysis breaking down the results and final schedule, including:
- Live Draw application – A countdown clock ticks down to the final seconds until the Draw, where fans can log on and follow in real-time each World Cup group selection from the team pools until the final schedule is announced;
- News & Analysis – Profiles on World Cup qualifying teams and players plus breaking news and analysis from across ESPN.com, ESPNsoccernet.com and ESPNdeportes.com, including reports from a global team in the U.S., Mexico City, Buenos Aires and South Africa, Andrew Warshaw live from Cape Town, post-draw analysis from Harry Harris and a panel of regional experts;
- Cover It Live conversations – Log on and share your thoughts and comments as the Draw unfolds with U.S. national team player Jimmy Conrad, renowned soccer writers Leander Schaerlaeckens and Jeff Carlisle among other special guests moderated by soccer editor Jen Chang for ESPN.com; Warshaw for ESPNsoccernet.com; and ESPN Deportes and International soccer announcer Fernando Palomo for ESPNdeportes.com.
ESPN Mobile
In preparation for the Draw, ESPN Mobile will also launch a free ESPN World Cup App available in the App Store. The app will feature live draw results updated in real-time in a visually rich, immersive experience. Other features of the app include:
- Exclusive breaking news and analysis;
- Expert profiles of all 32 teams, key players and groups;
- Live countdown to the 2010 World Cup kickoff on June 11;
- A full schedule of matches with venue information and World Cup history;
- Mobile fantasy bracket management for the ESPN World Cup Bracket Predictor game;
- Personalization features with social media tools to submit fan comments.
Future updates to the app will include alerts, community features, live scores, GameCast, video content and more. Fans with access to the ESPNsoccernet mobile Web site can also find Draw coverage, breaking news, team summaries, player profiles and more.
ESPN Fantasy Sports
Sign-ups will also be open this week for the new ESPN World Cup Bracket Predictor game, the first of four customized fantasy games around the World Cup. The fantasy game is available in both English and Spanish languages to anyone around the world via the ESPN World Cup microsite, mobile app and coming soon to the mobile Web.
Soon after the draw is announced on Friday, Dec. 4, players will be able to make their group stage picks and predict how the bracket of 16 will play out through the knockout stage until one team remains. Residents in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and U.K. will also be eligible to win prizing for first and second place for the top brackets with the most correct picks.
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