ESPN will serve as the exclusive television partner of the upcoming 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship presented by Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California. All 107 games of the world championship will be carried on the WatchESPN platform in Australia and New Zealand.
Coverage will be highlighted by at least 10 games across ESPN and ESPN2 in AUS/NZ – with all 107 streaming on WatchESPN – as well as the widest international distribution to-date for a WL championship.
The championship will feature the top 30 men’s national teams in the world, including many of the marquee players from the Premier Lacrosse League and National Lacrosse League. The event will include five days of pool play, followed by playoffs comprising a first round, quarterfinals, semifinals and medal games.
Coverage will kick off with the June 22 tournament opener between the US and Canada. The game will be the long-awaited rematch of the gold medal showdown from the last men’s championship (2018), and will air live on ESPN2 at 12pm AEST. Australia’s opening 3 games of pool play against ENG, USA and CAN will be broadcast live on ESPN/ESPN2, with their matchup against the Haudenosaunee available live on WatchESPN, or ESPN on delay later in the evening.
New Zealand fans will have their pool play matchups against Poland broadcast live on ESPN and Jamaica on delay on ESPN2, while all other games will be available live via WatchESPN.
Broadcast information for the 1st Round Playoffs and Quarter Finals is still to be determined, however all games can be watched live on the WatchESPN platform.
ESPN2 will also carry both semifinals on June 30 (10am AEST and 12pm AEST), as well as the Gold Medal game on July 2 (9am AEST). The Bronze Medal Game will be available live via WatchESPN and on delay on ESPN2
The commentator roster for the ESPN2 games includes Chris Cotter and Anish Shroff as play-by-play announcers, and Paul Carcaterra and Quint Kessenich as analysts. All four are returning after covering the event in 2018. They will be joined by Ralph Bednarczyk, Joe Beninati, Brad Challoner, Jake Elliott, Teddy Jenner, AJ Kanell, Courtney Martinez Connor, Nick Ossello and Cooper Perkins for the remaining 101 games.
ESPN’s coverage of the men’s championship is part of a multi-year partnership signed in 2022.
All 12 games scheduled to be broadcasted by ESPN/ESPN2 in AUS/NZ will also be simulcast on Kayo Sports – please see our “How to Watch Guide” for more info on how best to watch the Championship on your big screen at home.
The Australian Lacrosse Network is working with ESPN Pacific Rim and will provide any additional live streaming coverage information via our social platforms as it comes to hand.
