With the start of the 2014 World Cup just 11 days away, ESPN has rolled out a revamped version of its global soccer website.
The new ESPNFC.com, which powered up on June 1 at 2 p.m. (ET), is geared with a mobile-first approach and is fully responsive across desktop, smartphone and tablet devices in English, customized for the U.S., the U.K. and the rest of the globe. Editions in Spanish Singapore/Malaysian and Indonesians will kick off later this year, according to digital executives at the worldwide leader.
The enhanced ESPNFC.com features scrolling curated feeds, enabling users to roll through myriad suggested stories, videos and more presenting the most recent and relevant content.
The sports behemoth, which will air all 64 of the tourney’s matches on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (Portuguese) and ABC and via WatchESPN and ESPN3 has also put a new ESPN FC App in play. Developed natively for iOS and Android smartphones and supporting both English and Spanish language, the app features a dedicated 2014 FIFA World Cup section that serves as the default launch page, providing easy and immediate access to all related content before, during and after the tournament.
Domestically, the app, available free to download in the App Store and Google Play, will showcase in-progress clips for the World Cup, whereby goal highlights will be marked on a timeline for each match in real-time. Additionally, all fans worldwide will have access to ESPN FC studio coverage and commentary video
Similarly as the action in Brazil draws near, ESPNFC.com is defaulting to World Cup navigation, while affording fans the option to toggle to standard navigation menus for access to league coverage. Built with an emphasis on multimedia content, the new ESPNFC.com in the U.S. will also include in-progress video of goals and highlights shortly after they happen live for the World Cup, with studio coverage and commentary video also available worldwide.
Powered by Internet Explorer, the ESPN FC World Cup Essentials hub has also opened up. There, users can check into soccer’s history, and find out more about players, teams and long-standing rivalries.
The site is/will be home to dedicated blogging coverage around all 32 World Cup entrants, and profiles of all of the national teams through June 11,The remaining schedule includes: Belgium, South Korea, Ghana, Italy, USA, Netherlands, Colombia from June 1-7 and from June 8-11: England, Argentina, Spain, Brazil
It will also count down the top 50 players expected to compete in Brazil, based on a comprehensive poll from ESPN FC writers and editors across all regions. The top-three-ranked players will be revealed live on ESPN in the U.S. tied to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Preview show at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.
The new ESPNFC.com’s daily multimedia original content will also include Men In Blazers' hosts Roger Bennett and Michael Davies on-site in Rio during the World Cup. In addition to their regular podcasts and MIBs blog on ESPNFC.com, Bennett and Davies will deliver original video content, including daily post-match video podcasts live exclusively on ESPN3 in the U.S. under the heading of Boom Room Extra with Men In Blazers, and Morning Prediction, taped segments previewing the day's matches.
Also on tap:·
*Nick Hornby Essays – the best-selling author will pen a series of essays for ESPNFC.com in the days prior to the World Cup.
*U.S. and Mexico National Team International Friendlies(through June 7) – ESPN FC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Mexico will have complete friendly coverage for both national teams in addition to England, Germany and Brazil.
·*E:60 World Cup Special featuring Pelé (June 1) – profile piece by Wayne Drehs on the football legend and his legacy today in Brazil.
*Growing Up Brazil (June 2-6) – Fernando Duarte pens a series of first-person essays about what it was like to grow up outside of Rio as a football fan, a journey that has taken him from playing on dirt pitches to following the Brazilian national team as both a fan and journalist.
*Michael Bradley (June 5) – Drehs profiles the USA midfielder for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN FC on the relationship with his father and his journey to the U.S. Men’s National Team, including his experience in Italian Serie A and Toronto FC.
*1978 Argentinian National Team (June 9) – Wright Thompson’s story of the team that hosted and won the World Cup during major political unrest the stories of the missing and their families.
*World Cup 2014: Everything You Need to Know (June 10-11) – a two-day package with everything fans – both avid and casual alike – will need to know heading into June 12
*Top 10 World Cup Moments (June 11) – ESPNFC.com will host a one-hour special on digital platforms recapping the most memorable (and most infamous) moments in World Cup history.
