- Europe’s World Cup Qualifying Matches – 13 on ESPN Networks
- Asian Football Confederation’s World Cup Qualification Matches Exclusively on ESPN3
- International Friendlies Highlighted by France vs. Spain on Tuesday, March 28, at 3 p.m. ET
ESPN’s coverage of the first FIFA International Match Week in 2017 will begin Wednesday, March 22, with back-to-back international friendly matches – Czech Republic vs. Lithuania at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN3, and Scotland vs. Canada at 3:45 p.m. on ESPN Deportes and ESPN3. In all, ESPN networks will carry 26 matches live during the week, including FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in Europe and Asia.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) World Cup qualification matches are exclusive to ESPN3, the streaming network accessible via WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
Highlights:
- Ian Darke, ESPN’s lead soccer voice, and analyst Craig Burley will handle English language commentary on ESPN2 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match featuring Azerbaijan vs. FIFA World Cup champion Germany on Sunday, March 26 at 12 p.m. Richard Méndez (play-by-play) and analyst Tato Noriega will call the match in Spanish on ESPN Deportes,
- On Wednesday, March 22, ESPN Deportes’ lead soccer commentator team, Fernando Palomo (play-by-play) and Noriega, will call Germany vs. England at 3:45 p.m. – one of nine live matches on Deportes during the international match week;
- ESPN3 will carry six World Cup qualification matches led by China vs. South Korea on Thursday, March 23, at 7:35 a.m., and Australia vs. United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, March 28, at 5 a.m.;
- Méndez and Noriega will commentate the Bulgaria vs. Netherlands match on Saturday, March 25 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN Deportes;
- Tuesday, March 28 at 3 p.m.: Darke and ESPN’s lead soccer analyst Taylor Twellman will call France vs. Spain on ESPN2, while Mendez and Noriega will provide Spanish-language commentary on ESPN Deportes.
Schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Network(s) |
| Wed, Mar 22 | 1 p.m. | Czech Republic vs. Lithuania (Friendly) | ESPN3 |
| 3:45 p.m. | Scotland vs. Canada (Friendly) | ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Germany vs. England (Friendly) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| Thu, Mar 23 | 7:35 a.m. | China vs. South Korea (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 |
| 8 a.m. | Iraq vs. Australia (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 11:30 a.m. | United Arab Emirate vs. Japan (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Spain U-21 vs, Denmark U-21 (Friendly) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| Fri, March 24 | 12 p.m. | Russia vs. Ivory Coast (Friendly) | ESPN3 |
| 1 p.m. | Georgia vs. Serbia (European WCQ) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Austria vs. Moldova (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Republic of Ireland vs. Wales (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Spain vs. Israel (European WCQ) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Kosovo vs. Iceland (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| Sat, March 25 | 1 p.m. | Andorra vs. Faroe Island (European WCQ) | ESPN3 |
| 1 p.m. | Switzerland vs. Latvia (European WCQ) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 1 p.m. | Cyprus vs. Estonia (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Bulgaria vs. Netherlands (European WCQ) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 3:45 p.m. | Luxembourg vs. France (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| Sun, March 26 | 12 p.m. | Azerbaijan vs. Germany (European WCQ) | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 2:45 p.m. | Romania vs. Denmark (European WCQ) | ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 | |
| 2:45 p.m. | Scotland vs. Slovenia (European WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| Tue, March 28 | 5 a.m. | Australia vs. United Arab Emirates (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 |
| 7 a.m. | South Korea vs. Syria (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 8 a.m. | Iran vs. China (Asia WCQ) | ESPN3 | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Austria vs. Finland (Friendly) | ESPN3 | |
| 3 p.m. | France vs. Spain (Friendly) | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
**All matches and times subject to change
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