Over the past nine months, football fans across the United States have been switching between ESPN+ for LaLiga and Bundesliga, Paramount+ for the Champions League and Serie A, and NBC for the Premier League. However, this summer, their televisions will be tuned to just one network for the FIFA World Cup: Fox Sports.

“I’m really proud that we have the opportunity to broadcast this World Cup — it’s an enormous responsibility for us,” said Fox’s Vice President of Production, Zac Kenworthy, in an interview with FourFourTwo. “As a producer, you want day 40 of the 39-day tournament to arrive and for people to feel like something is missing from their lives — that moment when they say, ‘Oh my goodness, the World Cup’s over, what am I going to do now?’”

“You aim to leave behind a lasting legacy. Think back to what the 1994 World Cup achieved — at that time, the United States didn’t even have a professional league, and now we have a thriving MLS and NWSL. I hope that 32 years from now, people look back at Fox’s coverage and say, ‘That was the turning point when American soccer truly matured.’”

Fox Sports already has ten years of experience in broadcasting major football tournaments, but there’s a strong feeling that this particular World Cup surpasses all previous Euros, World Cups, and Copa Américas combined. It’s more than a tournament — it’s an opportunity to reshape the future of football in the United States.

This sentiment was on full display during Fox’s private media preview event on Thursday in Manhattan. Zac Kenworthy was joined by several of Fox’s top broadcasters, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, who joined via video call. “People have judged me my entire career, so now it’s my turn to judge others,” Ibrahimović joked.

“We’re airing 70 games on Fox — the most ever — and we have 104 opportunities to sell this sport to this nation,” explained Fox presenter Rebecca Lowe to FourFourTwo. “Fox’s coverage will be all-encompassing, filled with energy, covering every angle — we’ll have people everywhere.”

Rebecca Lowe has been one of the leading football presenters in the United States since she became NBC’s lead studio host for the Premier League in 2013. That reputation is what prompted Fox to bring her on loan for this summer’s World Cup. She’s far from the only addition — Thierry Henry, Clint Dempsey, and Thiago Alcântara are among the new faces joining Fox’s coverage team.

“This is a huge opportunity for the sport and for this country to make a significant leap forward,” Lowe added. “If you’re someone who enjoys football but doesn’t watch regularly, and you tune into our coverage, I believe we’ll captivate you with the colours, the energy, the passion, and the quality on the pitch — it’s going to be a complete experience.”

Even as Fox invests in new on-air talent, it has remained loyal to its familiar voices such as Rob Stone, Carli Lloyd, Alexi Lalas, and Stu Holden. “It’s an incredible honour and responsibility for us to be the voices representing so many fans this summer,” Holden told FourFourTwo. “If people come away from this tournament, turn on their TV for a big match, and think of us — then we’ve done our job.”

“It’s the greatest privilege when fans come up and tell me, ‘You’ve been the voice of my football journey.’ John Strong and I have become best friends after calling so many games together over the years. I’m thrilled for this summer — I want to enjoy every moment while staying present and finding joy in what we do.”

This is truly the world’s game, and Fox has reflected that spirit in its recruitment. Juan Pablo Ángel will represent Colombia, John Obi Mikel will represent Nigeria, and Peter Schmeichel will represent Denmark. Meanwhile, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, though still an active player, will take his first steps into punditry, proudly representing Mexico.

“Firstly, there’s no better network than Fox Sports when it comes to delivering major sporting events,” Hernández told FFT. “Secondly, the challenge is greater because I’ll be speaking in my second language. And finally, it shows that even though we’re neighbouring countries, an international network is placing its faith in a Mexican talent.”

“I’m not saying it’s easy for a Mexican to join another network and work there, but it should serve as an inspiration. When I see a Mexican speaking a second language and being viewed as a legend on an important platform, that motivates me — that’s why I didn’t hesitate to take this opportunity.”

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