Long time sports broadcaster Gus Johnson is officially on the path to being groomed to voice the World Cup for 2018 and 2022. The broadcaster joined Fox and was immediately asked if he was interested in becoming the American voice of soccer. After expressing interest, Johnson now begins the path to taking over that lead role.
In October of 2011, FIFA awarded the U.S. broadcasting rights to Fox Sports for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Fox Sports president Eric Shanks felt he needed to do something in order to really brand the event as their own and improve their overall soccer coverage, so he called up Johnson. Johnson had just joined Fox five months earlier after being the voice of CBS's coverage of NCAA March Madness. Sport's fans fell in love with his passion and overall excitement with each play that happened, Fox knew they had to sweep him up.
Johnson began immersing himself in sports coverage for the network including college football, but more importantly, began calling dozens of games on the radio for the San Joe Earthquakes of the MLS. He also began doing a series of practice soccer broadcasts for Fox studios around the country. This began his path to the World Cup.
"This is not something that is temporary. This is something we are going to work at. It isn't an Olympic assignment where he does the luge for two weeks and then we don't hear from that announcer for the next four years. This is something we are serious about and something we will continue to work at," Shanks said in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
Johnson and Shanks both stressed the fact that this is a long-term work in progress. If all goes according to plan, Johnson will lead Fox's coverage of the 2015 Women's World Cup before taking on the 2018 event.
Johnson admits that before he talked with Shanks, he had little exposure to the sport of soccer. He started his preparation by calling 12 MLS games on the radio, an experience Johnson notes as educational. He then went on a three-week soccer excursion all over Europe, visiting local clubs and meeting with famed soccer announced Martin Tyler of Sky Sports to pick up any tips.
Johnson will call his first match for Fox Soccer on Feb. 14 from Madrid, when Real Madrid faces Manchester United. This is the first assignment in a series of high-profile soccer matches Johnson will be voicing.
Shanks understands that due to Johnson's lack of soccer experience the network might earn some skeptics. Fox plans on searching globally or a staff for the 2015 Women's World Cup that is expected to have some veteran announcers to assist Johnson.
Johson's message for sport's fans that are not sold on the idea of him becoming the American voice of the sport is that he will become a convert of the sport. And when he does, he will give fans the same passion and commitment that got him famous in the first place.
