beIN SPORTS Lands NASL Rights

MIAMI: The 2016 and 2017 broadcast rights for the North American Soccer League (NASL) have been acquired by beIN SPORTS.

The NASL consists of 12 teams in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, including defending champions New York Cosmos as well as Rayo OKC, Miami FC and Puerto Rico FC.

The network’s coverage of the soccer matches begins this weekend with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosting Miami FC. The matches will be available on the linear channel and on beIN SPORTS CONNECT, the network’s streaming service.

“With our new partnership with NASL firmly in place, we’re betting big on North American programming rooted in a growing U.S. fan base,” said Yousef Al-Obaidly, managing director of beIN SPORTS. “Featuring some of the country’s top professional soccer talent, this acquisition represents the first time we hold the rights to a domestic soccer league, further showcasing our commitment to providing access to the best sports leagues and events, both here and abroad.”