The first FIFA Event of 2007 concluded on 22 July with the successful delivery of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, where 24 teams competed across six host cities and venues.

Production specifications for this event were prepared by HBS for FIFA. CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) were the appointed local Host Broadcaster bringing skilled expertise and vital local experience to the project, having developed and then delivered the full Production Plan comprising the extensive multilateral production (including live coverage of all 52 matches) and the provision of unilateral services to Media Rights Licencees (MRLs). All bookings for unilateral services and satellite distribution were the responsibility of HBS with an International Broadcast Coordination Centre (IBCC) set-up in Canada’s National Soccer Stadium in Toronto.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup is followed in quick succession by the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the Republic of Korea, the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Brazil. Media Rights Licencees (MRLs) will be able to continue downloading daily match running orders and key production and booking documents from all events from the download section of the HBS website.

The Other FIFA Events section of the HBS website gives an overview of the production and competition format of each event.

HBS is currently assisting FIFA in the development of host broadcast requirements for all Other FIFA Events 2007 – 2010. HBS is also working extensively on the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ with preparations well underway for the first broadcast milestone, the Preliminary Draw, which takes place in Durban on 25 November.