Sports

The USMNT’s World Cup opener on Fox Sports: Smiles, swearing and Sesame Street

Published

2 months ago

June 13, 2026

“This is fun. If you cannot have fun, I have no time for you.”

Those were the words of Alexi Lalas as Fox Sports opened its coverage of the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay — and it quickly became the theme.

Even if you knew nothing about football, this was a broadcast designed to make you feel welcome.

There were appearances from Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Elmo and Cookie Monster popped up, too. Viewers were treated to throwback footage from World Cup ’94. There was even unexpected swearing on live television.

Cameras were everywhere: in the stands, on the sidelines, in the parking lot, on the red carpet and out on the streets.

The message was impossible to miss and the tone was set for something closer to a national sporting spectacle than a normal soccer broadcast.

Setting the scene

The official build-up to kick-off had barely begun on Fox Sports before it became obvious this was not going to be a conventional World Cup game.

The day was still young and much of the focus remained on Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina when the entertainment — and the edge — began to creep in.

Fox Sports were out in force with presenter Rebecca Lowe alongside, from left, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Alexi Lalas (Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports via Getty Images)

Jesse Marsch, the former USMNT assistant now coaching Canada, had suggested that during his time with the American team, players occasionally had to be encouraged to sing the national anthem.

When those comments were relayed on air, to Clint Dempsey, the former U.S. star, he did not hide his feelings.

“I’m someone who’s bled for this country,” Dempsey said. “I broke my nose playing for this country. I’ve come back from two heart procedures and played for this country.

“I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and is singing another country’s national anthem.” Spicy.

Elsewhere, presenter Rebecca Lowe was attempting to navigate a promotional segment featuring James Corden when Lalas delivered a line that left Lowe and studio partner Thierry Henry momentarily stunned.

“Can we talk about James Corden for a second?” Lowe asked.

“What do you guys call him?,” said Lalas. “A … full-kit w*****, right?”

Lalas, a member of the United States’ 1994 World Cup squad, was clearly intent on bringing that same sense of looseness and irreverence to Fox’s coverage three decades later.

Pre-match hype

Three hours before kick-off, Fox’s coverage of the match officially began, and the network wasted little time in poking fun at itself.

Amid montage footage of fans in the streets displaying varying degrees of game understanding, Mahomes appeared on screen. “This is what it takes, apparently. An American football player explaining the world’s game.”

On set inside the stadium, Lowe anchored proceedings alongside Zlatan Ibrahimović, Henry and Lalas, while Dempsey and Landon Donovan joined Rob Stone pitchside to soak up the atmosphere and reflect on their World Cup memories.

Stu Holden worked the crowd from a stage in the parking lot, while Jenny Taft tracked the U.S. team bus en route to the stadium — a touch that felt reminiscent of how British broadcasters once treated FA Cup final day.

Then came the red carpet.

This is not something dedicated football followers would typically expect (or want) to see… but this is Fox. The network is not producing a broadcast solely for soccer fans, it is targeting the widest possible audience — borrowing from its NFL coverage and leaning into the entertainment-driven style of American sports television.

They fully embraced the Hollywood setting. Charissa Thompson and Jameis Winston welcomed celebrity guests, beginning with Elmo and Cookie Monster.

“Don’t crumble under pressure,” Cookie Monster advised the USMNT.

Two hours before kick-off, Fox rolled back the years with a nostalgic look at World Cup 1994. Grainy footage of Diana Ross, Bill Clinton and Diego Maradona served as a reminder of just how long it has been since the U.S. last hosted the tournament, with references to AOL, video stores and 1990s pop culture reinforcing the message.

Viewers were taken back to that famous afternoon at the Rose Bowl, when Roberto Baggio blazed his penalty over the bar and Brazil were crowned world champions.

When NFL legend Brady then provided a voiceover in the final hour, the stage was firmly set.

The occasion felt huge — and unmistakably American.

Analysis and in-game coverage

Analyst Holden was alongside lead commentator John Strong to call the game, and some viewers on social media platform X lamented the pairing. Inside Los Angeles Stadium, FIFA’s name for SoFi, the noise was so intense that the duo were occasionally difficult to hear.

Overall, though, their role was fulfilled as they managed to talk new fans and experienced viewers through the game.

Holden stood out for his reading of the game. His analysis of the U.S. tactical adjustments after Christian Pulisic’s halftime withdrawal was sharp.

On the sidelines, Taft added valuable color and context away from the main broadcast. Her reporting on Pulisic was particularly notable, describing how he acknowledged family and friends with a “I’m good” gesture, as concern briefly grew over a potential injury.

In the studio, the pundits’ task at half-time was relatively straightforward after a dominant opening 45 minutes from the USMNT, who raced into a 3-0 lead.

Lowe was almost losing her voice, while Lalas was effusive: “That’s the greatest half of group-stage play from a men’s team at a World Cup in history. Everything went right. It was total dominance from top to bottom.”

Henry pointed to tactical superiority and overloads, while Ibrahimović provided the hot take.

As a nation purred over Folarin Balogun’s two-goal display, the former Sweden forward noted: “He should have had a hat-trick — if he had shot instead of passing on that other chance, he would have scored another.” Fair enough.

Fox Sports’ Rob Stone alongside US internationals, from left, Carli Lloyd, Clint Dempsey, and Stu Holden (Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports via Getty Images)

It was a strong day for the team and the broadcast.

Some viewers would have been turned off by the Americana of it all. Some would not have liked that it was dumbed down for casual fans. But what did you expect?

Perhaps the only thing that did not work well on the day was pop culture references from the commentary team.

As Balogun was substituted in the second half, Holden noted he was receiving an “ovation from the crowd.”

It was extremely loud, prompting Strong to retort that it might be for him — or it might be for Hilary Duff, who was being shown on the big screen.

“There’s a Party in the USA,” quipped Holden, before quickly realizing his mistake. “Oh no… that’s Miley Cyrus — we’re struggling with our references,” he laughed.

It was all in good humor, fitting a broadcast where levity was a prevailing tone.

In the wake of the win, coverage returned to the parking lot, where Dempsey, Donovan and Carli Lloyd were surrounded by hundreds of wild fans, chanting “USA, USA, USA.”

The match had been a resounding success on the field — and the broadcast wasn’t bad either. Everyone was having fun. It was impossible not to.

Sports

Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer joins top-10 strikeout list with nobody close behind

Published

7 seconds ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

PHILADELPHIA — It was the same as every other Max Scherzer pre-pitch routine. He received the ball back in his glove, flicked it over to his right hand, looked down, brought his glove to his face, swung his arms and then rocked into his delivery. Then he found his latest place in history.

With a sixth-inning strikeout of Kyle Schwarber in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 7-5 extra-innings win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, Scherzer moved beyond Walter Johnson for the 10th-most strikeouts in MLB history (3,516). He is one of two active players in the top 10, alongside Justin Verlander, and may be the final pitcher to crack the leaderboard.

“There are some really big-time names there,” Scherzer said, “and so to now be a part of that group, it’s special.”

It took Scherzer 6,675 days to go from one strikeout to 3,516. That opening K came April 29, 2008, against Michael Bourn of the Houston Astros, back when they were in the National League. Since then, he’s won three Cy Youngs and two World Series, gone to eight All-Star Games and pitched for seven MLB teams. His plaque in Cooperstown has been secure for some time.

This Toronto tenure for the 19-year veteran is but a small part of his larger career. By ERA, it’s been his least successful. By regular-season wins, it’s tied with his Texas Rangers stint for his fewest with a franchise. After getting his historic strikeout Saturday, Scherzer promptly allowed back-to-back homers and left the game. He’s not an undisputed ace anymore.

Yet there remains that chance for greatness every time Scherzer steps on the mound. The legend still stops by on occasion. Some days it’s outdueling Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series, other days it’s screaming his manager off the mound in the American League Championship Series. Sometimes it’s freezing Schwarber with a four-seam fastball to move into the strikeout top 10.

Strikeout No. 3,516 for Max Scherzer!

He passes Walter Johnson for 10th place on the all-time Ks leaderboard 👏 pic.twitter.com/BpBRP4U4c2

— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2026

“We’re talking top-10 anything in baseball, you’re lucky to be a small part of that,” manager John Schneider said.

Moving beyond Johnson and other all-time greats is an accomplishment in itself. Doing so in the current era of baseball, with rampant elbow inflammation and shorter starts than ever, is a different task. Behind Scherzer and Verlander, Chris Sale ranks No. 3 among active starters in strikeouts. The Atlanta Braves lefty, though, is still nearly 800 behind the top 10 and is 37 years old. He probably won’t crack the list. The active strikeouts leader among starters younger than 30 is San Francisco Giants righty Logan Webb at 1,095.

“Until MLB and the owners actually want to incentivize starting pitching and want to have starters pitch deeper into ballgames, it’s going to be probably a difficult thing to reach that milestone for somebody else,” Scherzer said. “But I think it’ll be done because I think eventually we’re going to look at it, and we’re going to want more starting pitching in the game.”

Maybe there will be a renaissance in complete games and high strikeout totals, but it certainly doesn’t seem as if baseball is trending that direction. There is a very real chance Scherzer is the last pitcher to rewrite the top-10 list.

Saturday’s strikeout looking, with Schwarber’s long walk back to the Phillies dugout, may be the last of its kind.

Guerrero Jr. went for MRI on hamstring, returns with a homer

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned Saturday from a three-game absence with a home run to deep left field. The Blue Jays first baseman has managed his ailing hamstring for weeks now, but this was the first time he was given a lengthy rest. The days off, Guerrero revealed Saturday, came after his hamstring was in real pain Tuesday in Houston. It prompted an MRI, which Guerrero said showed some inflammation.

“It was just a little bit of inflammation,” Guerrero said through team interpreter Hector Lebron. “Just a little bit. But I can go. I can play with it like that.”

If Guerrero can manage his legs and keep them fresh enough to turn on baseballs as he did Saturday, the Jays’ offence may trend in the right direction. Guerrero, as always, is the key to Toronto’s attack. His hamstring might be the key now, too.

Sports

How to watch Blue Jays vs. Phillies: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

Published

7 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

The Toronto Blue Jays will look to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, at 1:35 p.m. ET. Jesus Luzardo (10-5, 3.36 ERA) will start for the Phillies, who are 62-56 this season and second in the NL East. Shane Bieber (3-2, 5.11 ERA) is starting for the Blue Jays, who are 56-62 and fifth in the AL East.

How to watch Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Blue Jays vs. Phillies odds

Favorite Moneyline: Phillies -208
Underdog Moneyline: Blue Jays +170
Total: 8.5
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Phillies

Rafael Marchan: 10 Day IL (Knee), Johan Rojas: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Brad Keller: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Adolis Garcia: 60 Day IL (Lat), Tanner Banks: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Derek Hill: day-to-day (Shoulder), Andrew Painter: day-to-day (Hamstring), Aaron Nola: day-to-day (Knee)

Blue Jays

Luis Urias: 10 Day IL (Quadricep), Jonatan Clase: 10 Day IL (Foot), Spencer Arrighetti: 15 Day IL (Foot), Trey Yesavage: 15 Day IL (Knee), Cody Ponce: 60 Day IL (Knee), Anthony Santander: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Joe Mantiply: 60 Day IL (Knee), Addison Barger: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Yimi Garcia: 60 Day IL (Elbow), José Berrios: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Lenyn Sosa: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Patrick Corbin: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), George Springer: day-to-day (Shoulder)

Stats to know

Bryce Harper is hitting for a .257 BA, .365 OBP and .504 SLG with a 21% strikeout rate and a 14.8% walk rate. His OPS is .868, which ranks 14th in MLB, and he has scored 72 runs. In 499 plate appearances, he has hit 25 home runs (13th in MLB) and driven in 71 runs (14th in MLB). Harper has been crafty on the base paths, recording six steals on 11 attempts.
In 487 plate appearances, Luis Arraez is hitting .324/.360/.447 with a .806 OPS and 10 steals on 10 attempts. He has hit five long balls, driven in 48 runs and scored 55 times.
Toronto’s Ernie Clement is slashing .285/.309/.411 this season with nine home runs, 38 RBIs and an OPS of .720. He has a 9.9% strikeout rate and a 3.2% walk rate in 466 plate appearances, and he has scored 48 total runs.
In 461 plate appearances, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has posted a 13.4% strikeout rate and a 10.2% walk rate while slashing .262/.341/.358 with seven home runs, 46 RBIs and 58 runs scored. He has stolen seven bases on 10 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Sports

Dwight McNeil & Brennan Johnson: Everton and Crystal Palace in talks over swap deal for pair

Published

15 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Everton and Crystal Palace are in talks about a swap deal that would see Toffees’ winger Dwight McNeil join the Eagles and Wales international Brennan Johnson move in the opposite direction.

Both clubs are hoping to conclude the deal this week.

McNeil, 26, nearly moved to Selhurst Park at the start of February when Palace agreed a loan-to-buy deal, which would have turned into a £20m permanent move this summer.

However, the transfer fell through as the required paperwork could not be completed in time, even though McNeil had already passed a medical.

In a social media post, his partner Megan Sharpley had been critical of Palace, writing on Instagram: “We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is.

“So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that’s OK to mess and toy with their mental health and that it’s just part of the job?

“To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster and to be toyed with until the final minute. For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation has hurt more than I can say.”

But the deal has been revived, with Johnson now involved in the exchange.

The 25-year-old, who has played 45 times for Wales, scored the winning goal for Tottenham in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May 2025.

Johnson moved to Palace in a £35m deal in January and helped them reach the Conference League final, although he was an unused substitute in their 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano as the Eagles won their first European trophy.

Johnson failed to score in 26 appearance for Palace in all competitions, including 13 starts in the Premier League.

McNeil joined Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022, scoring 15 times in 128 games in all competitions.

Everton finished 13th in the Premier League last season, while Palace were two places below in the table, but will play in the Europa League in 2026-27 after their Conference League success.

The two sides meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, 22 August in the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.