- ESPN+ Debuts Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz Every Matchday with Must-See Action
- Derek Rae returns as ESPN’s Lead Bundesliga Commentator
- ESPNFC on ESPN+ Hosted by Kay Murray alongside Lutz Pfannenstiel Everyday at 8 p.m. ET
- All Matches on ESPN+, including appearances from “Rekordmeister” FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund
ESPN+ will stream every match this Bundesliga season, starting with Werder Bremen hosting “Rekordmeister” FC Bayern München on Friday, Aug. 18, at 2:30 p.m. ET at wohninvest WESERSTADION in Bremen. ESPN Bundesliga lead play-by-play commentator Derek Rae and analyst Didi Hamann will call the match in English from site, with German Sosa and Francisco Canepa calling the match on ESPN Deportes. ESPN’s Germany-based reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt will join analysts Arne Friedrich and Stewart Robson to provide pitch-side reporting and analysis.
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the commentary teams travel south to Dortmund for a season kickoff showdown between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Köln at Signal Iduna Park, live on ABC, ESPN+ (English and Spanish), and ESPN Deportes at 12:30 p.m. ET. Derek Rae and Stewart Robson will call the game in English, with Kenny Garay and Barak Fever providing Spanish-language commentary.
Kay Murray and analyst Lutz Pfannenstiel will host the English-language ESPN FC studio shows on opening weekend from Bristol Friday on ESPN+ and Saturday on ABC. Fuera De Juego will provide Spanish studio pre- and postgame coverage for both matches.
New in 2023-24: ESPN+ Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz Premieres This Saturday
This season, ESPN+ will debut Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz, a 90-minute studio program dedicated to serving US Bundesliga fans. Every Bundesliga Matchday, ESPN+ will stream Goal Arena, showcasing all must-see moments of all games played simultaneously, including goals, big chances and game-changing plays.
“ESPN+ is the viewing destination for Bundesliga fans and we are thrilled to introduce Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz to soccer fans in the U.S,” said John Lasker, Senior Vice president, ESPN+. “With multiple matches being played simultaneously, Goal Arena will enhance the viewing experience by offering live highlights and updates from all matches by utilizing split-screens and state-of-the-art transitions to make sure no action is missed.”
Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz Trailer here
Multiplatform Coverage
ESPN FC Exclusively on ESPN+ every day at 6 p.m. ET
- Extensive in-depth analysis and pitch-side interviews with hosts Dan Thomas or Kay Murray alongside a rotating cast of analysts such as Craig Burley, Alejandro Moreno, Kasey Keller, Shaka Hislop, Steve Nicol, and more.
- ESPN FC social will bring fans pre- and post-match coverage, real-time reactions, and match updates.
Fútbol Americas Special exclusively on ESPN+ This Saturday at 12 a.m. ET
The biweekly Fútbol Americas with Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar on ESPN+ will provide insider analysis, commentaries, and debates.
Mondays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m ET
- Saturday, August 19 – Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar preview Matchday 1.
SOCCER ON ESPN.com
- Team-by-team previews
- Derek Rae’s weekly analysis of the league’s most prominent storylines
SOCCER EN ESPAÑOL ON ESPNDEPORTES.com
- Wednesday: Las 10 figuras principales para la nueva temporada de la Bundesliga
- Thursday: Bundesliga Season 2023-24 Preview
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platforms |
| Fri, Aug 18 | 1:30 p.m. | ESPNFC: Werder Bremen vs. FC Bayern München Pregame English: Kay Murray and Lutz Pfannenstiel (in Bristol) with Archie Rhind-Tutt, Arne Friedrich and Stewart Robson (on-site)Fuera De Juego |
ESPN+
|
| 2:30 p.m. | Werder Bremen vs. FC Bayern München English: Derek Rae and Didi Hamann (on-site) Spanish: German Sosa and Francisco Canepa |
ESPN+ | |
| (30 mins following conclusion of match) | ESPNFC: Werder Bremen vs. FC Bayern München Postgame English: Kay Murray and Lutz Pfannenstiel (in Bristol) with Archie Rhind-Tutt, Arne Friedrich and Stewart Robson (on-site)Fuera De Juego |
ESPN+ | |
| Sat, Aug 19 | 9:30 a.m. |
Goal Arena – Bundesliga Konferenz |
ESPN+ |
| 12 p.m. |
ESPNFC: Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln Pregame
|
ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln English:Rae and Robson (on-site) Spanish: Kenny Garay and Barak Fever |
ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes | |
| (30 mins following conclusion of match) | ESPNFC Postgame Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln ESPNFC English: Murray and Pfannenstiel (in Bristol) with Rhind-Tutt and Friedrich (on-site) |
ESPN+ |
The Matchups:
- Werder Bremen vs. FC Bayern München – In the Bundesliga’s 2023-24 season-opener, Werder Bremen host FC Bayern München, the league champions for an unprecedented 11 straight seasons, at 2:30 p.m. in Bremen
- Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Köln – U.S. Men’s National Team star Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund, who finished second in the 2022-23 Bundesliga season, kicks off the team’s new campaign against 1. FC Köln in Dortmund.
- Seven matches on the Bundesliga’s opening weekend will stream live exclusively on ESPN+:
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platform |
| Sat, Aug 19 | 9:30 a.m. | Goal Arena Highlight Show | ESPN+ |
| 9:30 a.m. | Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig | ESPN+ | |
| 9:30 a.m. | FC Augsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach | ESPN+ | |
| 9:30 a.m. | TSG Hoffenheim vs. Sport-Club Freiburg | ESPN+ | |
| 9:30 a.m. | VfB Stuttgart vs. Vfl Bochum 1848 | ESPN+ | |
| 9:30 a.m. | VfL Wolfsburg vs. 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | ESPN+ | |
| Sun, Aug 20 | 9:30 a.m. | 1. FC Union Berlin vs. 1. FSV Mainz 05 | ESPN+ |
| 11:30 a.m. | Eintracht Frankfurt vs. SV Darmstadt 98 | ESPN+ |
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Media Contacts:
Christine Calcagno – Christine.B.Calcagno@espn.com
Mac Nwulu – Mac.Nwulu@espn.com
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