As a linked forerunner to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Football tournament, MultiChoice and A+E Networks International are to launch a pop-up channel called History of Football, a 14-day, 24/7, mega television event that will dig deep into the past and present of world football.

Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the channel would run from Monday May 28 to Sunday June 10, airing on DStv channel 187 and available to viewers of DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact.

A+E Networks International is a global content company that include the popular History Channel as one of its primary broadcast channels.

 “The History of Football pop-up channel will capture the anticipation and excitement ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, being hosted by the Russian Federation,” she said.

“This channel will, in fact, be broadcast in over 160 territories around the world, with more than 40 hours of content that will be a blend of global and local programming.

Across Africa, DStv viewers will be treated to a variety of content that will be of huge interest to soccer fans and will even appeal to people less knowledgeable about the sport.”

As part of the 14-day programming event, The History Channel will broadcast original, globally-focused premium documentary series, short form specials and a selection of FIFA World Cup films, along with locally-sourced television series and documentaries that a unique lens into passion for football around the world.

 “This focus on football will be great family entertainment,” said Ms Dziva.

“It is exciting for DStv to be part of this global event and in Africa, the pop-up channel is exclusive to DStv customers as a superb build-up to the action that will unfold during the World Cup tournament in June and July, which will of course feature on several dedicated SuperSport channels.”

 A line-up of great names has been assembled for History of Football: include Pelé, the only player to be on the winning team of three FIFA World Cups; Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in British history and current manager of the Welsh national team; Gary Lineker, England’s record-holder for goals scored in finals;

Internationally-renowned sports broadcaster Louis Van Gaal, former manager of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam and Holland amongst a host of other big names.

Series to be aired include: History’s Greatest Moments in Football, which chronicles the teams and players in recent World Cup history;

Football Godfathers, which presents five powerful documentaries delving into the minds and strategies of the world’s greatest and most revered club managers, revealing how they rose, often from relatively undistinguished playing careers, to become the global superstars of the sport we know today;

Football’s Greatest: Head to Head, which matches up the greatest players of yesteryear with the greatest of today, to find out once and for all, who is the ‘greatest of them all.’

Local programming will include The History of Football in Africa, a 48-minute documentary exploring the origins of the beautiful game on the African continent.

It shows how a sport brought into the continent by colonial powers became a tool for nation building and developed into the most popular game on the continent and giving rise to some of the world’s most renowned footballing greats.

Making World Cup History is a 24-minute special telling the story of the first FIFA Soccer World Cup to be held on the African continent when South Africa came as a new democracy from the fringes of sporting obscurity into the glare of the world’s greatest showpiece.

“It’s exciting and once again this package of fun, information and entertainment is exclusive to DStv,” said Ms Dziva.