ESPN, Inc. has reached an exclusive English-language agreement for 64 U.S. Soccer games to be seen for the next four years on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports. The new agreement, effective Jan. 1, 1999, provides that ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present a minimum of 12 matches a year (six on each network) involving the men’s and women’s national teams and ABC will air four matches a year. The games will include friendlies, World Cup qualifying contests in the USA and U.S. Cup tournaments. In addition, ESPN and ESPN2 will follow the women’s national team — with exhibition matches — leading up to the 1999 Women’s World Cup. All 32 games of USA ’99 will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. ESPN and sports marketing agency IMG, in conjunction with U.S. Soccer, will also develop and present a series of soccer programs directed to young soccer players, their coaches and their parents. “We are delighted to continue this relationship with the U.S. Soccer Federation,” said ESPN senior vice president of programming Steve Risser. “This agreement underscores ESPN and ABC Sports’ commitment to the sport and guarantees continued television exposure to the U.S. national teams. “This is another step forward for us in the growth and positioning of our sport,” said U.S. Soccer secretary general Hank Steinbrecher. “Reaching into the grassroots of our sport through consistent television coverage is immeasurable in its importance. I’m overjoyed that our fans will be able to follow both the men’s and women’s national teams closely on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.”