As the latino community grew in America during the 80s and 90s, Spanish-language television stations such as Univisión played a critical role in expanding the coverage of soccer. Broadcasting the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and top-flight European professional leagues such as La Liga and Serie A, Univisión, Telemundo, ESPN, TV Azteca and others built a culture of soccer fandom among not only latinos but also among the broader American soccer-playing public who turned to those networks to find the broadcasts of the game they loved.
That put Spanish-language broadcasters such as Luis Omar Tapia into the spotlight and has, over the last three decades, made him the voice of soccer to so many in America. Tapia is best known as the voice of the UEFA Champions League across the U.S. and Latin America having called the competition for 27 consecutive years. Now with Fox Sports, he spent a decade with Univisión Deportes calling some of the biggest matches and tournaments in soccer for the Spanish-language network, including Major League Soccer, German Bundesliga, U.S. Men’s National Team and Mexico National Team friendlies and more. He has also worked for GolTV, ESPN, TV Azteca and beIN Sports.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com
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Host: Kent Malmros
Guests: Luis Omar Tapia (Broadcaster)
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