Walt Disney-owned ABC and ESPN will carry three World Cup soccer tournaments as part of a deal with Major League Soccer. (The Week that was).(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, January, 2002

Caption: Walt Disney-owned ABC and ESPN will carry three World Cup soccer tournaments as part of a deal with Major League Soccer. The men's 2002 and 2006 World Cup and the women's 2003 World Cup will air on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Sources say MLS paid $40 million to $50 million to buy the U.S.

TV rights from German company Kirch Group. Over the next five seasons, ABC will air three MLS games and ESPN2 26 Saturday-afternoon games per season.