Graphic of soccer balls against background of grass

FOX Sports U Partnership Launched

FOX Sports wants to see scarves in the middle of summer as fans cheer on their favorite teams during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and it's hoping some University of Oregon students can help.

During the next three months, undergraduate students have the opportunity to work on an assignment related to the 2018 FIFA World Cup as part of a new partnership with FOX Sports University. Their goal: drive awareness and excitement for the World Cup on FOX and bring more eyes to FOX Sports GO.

FOX Sports University is a partnership developed by FOX Sports with approximately 40 prestigious academic and athletic institutions from around the country. The program is designed to provide real-world experience to graduate and undergraduate students, while developing a pipeline of innovative ideas for FOX Sports properties.

In October, the Fox Sports University team, including Marc Sommer (vice president, strategy and consumer insights), Oscar Vargas (senior analyst, strategy and consumer insights), and Barbara Blangiardi (senior vice president, strategy and creative partnerships and a University of Oregon alumna) came to campus to meet with students to explain the project.

Nine students—seven business majors and two journalism majors—will get experience working on a real-world sports industry project, exposure to FOX Sports executives, and a behind-the-scenes peek into the industry. While on campus, the FOX Sports team also shared various recruiting opportunities at the internship and entry-level stage that students have special access to by being a part of the FOX Sports University program.

Warsaw Sports Marketing Center and School of Journalism and Communication board member Barbara Blangiardi, who consulted for FOX Sports on the very successful women's World Cup broadcast, helped bring FOX Sports University to campus.

Although the U.S. Men's National Team will not be a part of the 2018 World Cup, FOX anticipates global superstars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar de Silva Santos Junior, will create exciting storylines for the summer's World Cup on FOX presentation.

University of Oregon student teams will organize their findings and give their final recommendations to the FOX Sports University team when it returns to the Lillis Business Complex in January.