[TELEVISION WATCH] Rob Stone, who has covered soccer for ESPN since 1997, has joined Fox Sports Media Group and will serve as the lead studio host for all soccer events, including those on Fox Soccer. Eric Wynalda, who has served Fox Soccer’s primary studio host, shifts to become lead studio analyst.
 
Stone’s first assignment is to host Fox Sports’ coverage of the Arsenal-Manchester United match prior to the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 22 (10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ET), the first-ever live English Premier League match on U.S. broadcast television.
 
“I’m massively grateful and humbled by this opportunity,” said Stone.  “When I first began playing the sport at age 5, I never imagined it would allow me to work four FIFA World Cups and make a living covering the world’s greatest game.”

Stone played soccer at Colgate and worked for television stations in Georgia and Florida. He was an analyst for Tampa Bay Mutiny matches on SportsChannel Florida, now FOX Sports Florida, before joining ESPN.