Alexi Lalas Draws Criticism During FOX's 2026 World Cup Broadcast Debut
FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas made a vulgar on-air comment about James Corden during the 2026 FIFA World Cup pregame coverage, stunning his fellow broadcasters. The remark came amid broader backlash against FOX's opening-day broadcast, which also missed Shakira's performance at the opening ceremony and cut to commercials during live match action. The incidents have raised questions about FOX's handling of its nearly $500 million World Cup broadcast rights.
During a pregame panel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas used a vulgar British slur on live television while referring to comedian James Corden, who is hosting FOX's World Cup After Hours show. The comment, made alongside panelists Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and host Rebecca Lowe, left his co-presenters visibly stunned and speechless. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with debate over whether Lalas will face any professional consequences. The on-air gaffe was not the only controversy for FOX on opening day — the network also failed to broadcast Shakira's performance at the opening ceremony in Mexico City live, and missed a portion of actual match action after commercials ran over a hydration break. Despite the controversies, the broadcast desk featuring Lowe, Henry, and Ibrahimović received widespread praise from viewers. The United States is set to play Paraguay in Los Angeles in their Group D opener, the first World Cup match on U.S. soil since 1994.
What's missing
It is unclear whether FOX Sports or FIFA have issued any official response to Lalas's on-air comment, or whether any disciplinary action is being considered.
How coverage differed
Newsweek focused broadly on FOX's troubled broadcast debut and general social media backlash against Lalas, while the New York Post zeroed in specifically on the Corden slur incident and offered a more sympathetic framing of Lalas's remark, suggesting it may have been affectionate rather than malicious.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Alexi Lalas insults James Corden during USA World Cup coverage: ‘F—ing w—er’
- NewsweekCenter
Alexi Lalas Is Getting Roasted After FOX's New World Cup Broadcast Debut
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