Former soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović, who made his soccer desk analyst debut for Fox during the 2026 World Cup, confirmed that this would “be his first and last time covering the event in the analyst’s chair,” according to Joe Rivera of USA TODAY. During the Fox postgame show after Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina, Ibrahimovic “took time to say goodbyes and give thanks for his stay with a heartfelt sign off.” Ibrahimovic: “I want to take this moment: Alexi (Lalas), thank you. Thierry (Henry), thank you. Rebecca (Lowe), thank you. It has been an absolute pleasure to share this studio with you guys. You made it very easy for me. … I hope, America, you enjoyed as much as I did. And this is also my farewell to the studio. This was the first and last time for me.” Rivera noted Ibrahimovic specifically “has been praised for his honest and entertaining work” from behind the desk throughout the tournament (USA TODAY, 7/19).
FOUND THEIR RHYTHM: THE ATHLETIC’s Andrew Marchand writes on its third try, “Fox finally got the World Cup right.” At the beginning of the tournament, Ibrahimović and Lalas “were the problems, with their lack of nuance and abundance of ego.” By the end, Lowe and Fox’s producers “had all the answers to the test.” Marchand: “This will be remembered as Zlatan’s TV World Cup, Lowe was … the backbone that made it all work.” It is “not easy to create a strong studio that has the chemistry and star power that Fox’s NFL and MLB programs possess.” And to do it in five weeks, it is “quite an accomplishment.” The addition of Lowe “changed Fox’s studio” as Lowe and Fox’s producers made Ibrahimović “come to life on air” (THE ATHLETIC, 7/20).
FINDING THE RIGHT RECIPE: POYNTER’s Tom Jones writes Fox’s game coverage during the World Cup was “pretty much applauded by fans and media critics, a major reason being that Fox ”didn’t dumb it down for soccer novices.” The key for broadcasters with big sporting events is to always “cater to the diehards and trust that other fans will catch up.” Jones: “The last thing you want to do is insult the diehard fans just to woo the casual fans.” Meanwhile, the studio analysts may have drawn “polarizing opinions,” but that was not the case with Lowe, who is as “good as any studio host in any sport” (POYTNER.org, 7/20).
