Budweiser Kicks Off Soccer Doc Series with Fox

FIFA World Cup beer sponsor Budweiser has poured a partnership pact with Fox Sports to support a documentary series that will air in 55 countries ahead of the 2014 competition from Brazil.

Showcasing six unique football stories from around the globe, the films under the Rise  As One banner-- the title of the brewer’s World Cup campaign --  kick offs on March 25 on Fox Sports 1 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Award-winning filmmakers Scott Boggins and Gabriel Spitzer, produced and directed the documentary series, which includes interviews with World Cup notables Ronaldo and Lilian Thuram.

Fox Sports holds the U.S. English-language media rights to an array of FIFA tourneys, beginning with the Women’s World Cup in 2015, highlighted by the men’s competitions in 2018 and 2022. ESPN will air the upcoming tournament from Brazil.

“The passion and dedication that unites footballers and fans worldwide is unrivaled, incredibly inspiring, and we are thrilled to partner with Budweiser to help tell these stories,” said Michael Bloom, Fox Sports senior vice president of original programming. “We think that football fans across the globe will enjoy this series and learn more about how transformative and impactful the beautiful game has been.”

Noted Andrew Sneyd, global vice president for Budweiser: “The FIFA World Cup is such a powerful moment in time which enables the world to join together in celebration of the world’s most popular sport. We are delighted to collaborate with Fox Sports on this new series and through the ‘Rise As One’ campaign, to share the many defining moments of football history with the millions of fans around the globe.”