2026 World Cup FOX Sports Broadcast Team: Commentators, Hosts & Analysts

The 2026 FIFA World Cup on FOX Sports will feature a high-profile broadcast team, with studio hosts, analysts, commentators, and announcers all playing a key role in the network’s tournament coverage. This guide looks at the confirmed FOX Sports World Cup roster, including the biggest names viewers can expect to see and hear throughout the competition. From studio coverage to live match commentary, here’s who is set to shape FOX’s coverage of World Cup 2026.

Looking for the full tournament schedule? Visit our World Cup TV guide for match dates, kickoff times, and TV and streaming details for every game.

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Who is on FOX Sports’ 2026 World Cup broadcast team?

FOX Sports has confirmed a high-profile on-air team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with studio hosts, analysts, commentators, and announcers all set to play a role in the network’s coverage. The table below lists the confirmed members of FOX’s World Cup broadcast team and will be updated as more official announcements are made.

Studio hosts and analysts

Rebecca Lowe (Host)

More commonly known for her work on NBC, Rebecca Lowe has been granted a summer loan deal to FOX, where she will play host throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rebecca has been the face of the Premier League in the U.S. for over a decade, with her professional resume also featuring other high profile events such as the Kentucky Derby, the UEFA Women’s EURO’s, and the Olympic Games. She will lead the studio coverage, so, regardless of if you are watching on TV, or streaming the FIFA World Cup live online, you can expect to see a heavy dose of Rebecca Lowe.

Rob Stone (Host)

A veteran host for FOX Sports, who will share duties with Rebecca Lowe, bringing his years of experience leading FOX’s major tournament coverage.

Thierry Henry (Lead Analyst)

A World Cup winner with France and a certified Premier League legend, Thierry Henry joins the team as a lead studio analyst. Henry is widely regarded as one of the sharpest tactical minds in the game today, showing off his abilities as a regular analyst on UEFA Champions League coverage. He is a pro’s pro when it comes to breaking down the action, and, as someone who is lucky enough to have won a World Cup, he can give a unique insight into what the players on the pitch are going through.

Alexi Lalas (Lead Analyst)

The lead analyst and USMNT legend has been a fixture of FOX’s soccer coverage for years, and will be on duty for the World Cup, bringing his trademark energy.

Zlatan Ibrahimović (Studio Analyst)

The "Lion" has officially arrived. Zlatan Ibrahimović, one of the most prolific and charismatic strikers to ever play the game, will make his full-time TV studio debut this summer. The now-retired Swedish legend was a force of nature for so many iconic clubs over the years, including Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, and Manchester United, and is responsible for some of the most outrageous goals in soccer history. He is also known for his way with words, and is never short of confidence. Recently, he announced his presence on the FOX World Cup broadcast team by saying “you’re welcome America”. This should be fun!

Match commentators and announcers

Ian Darke (Play-by-Play)

Perhaps the most iconic voice in the history of U.S. soccer broadcasting, Ian Darke is back behind the microphone for FOX Sports for what will be his 10th World Cup assignment. Soccer fans have been enjoying Darke’s commentary for decades, covering the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and more, in addition to his World Cup duties. Whether you are watching one of the matchups of the tournament or catching a mid-day kickoff on FS1, the presence of Ian Darke means that it will always feel like a huge game.

John Strong & Stu Holden

As FOX’s primary broadcast duo, John Strong and Stu Holden will provide play-by-play and color commentary for the tournament's biggest games. This includes the World Cup Final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium.

Landon Donovan (Color Commentator)

Darke will be joined in the booth by one of the biggest icons in the history of American soccer – Landon Donovan. No-one has scored more goals for the USMNT than Donovan’s 57, and he became the face of the sport in America during a career which saw him score 145 goals in Major League Soccer, mostly for LA Galaxy. As a broadcaster, Donovan previously worked with Ian Darke at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024 for ESPN/ABC, and he’s linking up again here for the tournament on FOX.

Cobi Jones (Match Analyst)

Donovan isn’t the only USMNT legend to join the FOX roster lately. The team’s record cap holder Cobi Jones will also be on FOX this year as a match analyst, having been signed up on another deal for this tournament. The US Soccer Hall of Famer has previously been part of FOX’s broadcast team at both the 2010 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, and has also worked for his old team, LA Galaxy as an analyst on Spectrum SportsNet. Jones brings a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch and is a welcome addition to the FOX team.

Maurice Edu (Match Analyst)

Joining Jones is another man who’ll be well known to US soccer fans, former Toronto FC, Stoke City and Rangers player Maurice Edu. Edu also earned 46 caps for the USMNT between 2007 and 2014, and he played for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since his retirement in 2017, Edu has become a broadcaster and was part of the FOX coverage at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. This time around, he’s taking a break from his current role with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to cover the biggest stage of all in June and July.

Lori Lindsey (Match Analyst)

Also joining the FOX team this summer is ex-USWNT midfielder Lori Lindsey. Lindsey made 31 appearances for the national team during her playing career, and played for the Washington Freedom and Philadelphia Independence amongst others and has been a prominent broadcaster since her retirement in 2015. After spells as a commentator for the NWSL website and the sideline reporter for Nashville SC, she’s spent the last three years on Apple TV covering MLS alongside Edu.

Mark Scott (Play-by-play announcer)

Edu and Jones will be joined by English play-by-play commentator Mark Scott, who has been a commentator across the Atlantic for well over a decade. Ever since he made his debut on the iconic British soccer show Match of the Day back in 2015, Scott has commentated extensively on the sport both on TV and on British radio for BBC Radio 5 Live.

Tyler Terens (Play-by-play announcer)

Play-by-play announcer Tyler Terens has been part of FOX’s soccer coverage since the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Since then, he’s also commentated on the CONCACAF Champions League and Major League Soccer for the network, having begun his broadcasting career with the Chicago Fire. As one of the rising stars of US soccer commentary, this is his first FIFA World Cup, as he introduces himself to the biggest stage for the very first time.

Derek Rae (Play-by-play announcer)

Scottish commentator Derek Rae has been commentating on the sport for four decades, having covered soccer all across the world, including games in Brazil, the Netherlands and Germany. He has worked extensively for ESPN during his career. In more recent times he’s been the voice of German football globally, as well as the EA Sports FC video game series. There’s no doubt that he brings huge experience to the team, having worked on five previous World Cups, and he’ll be a welcome addition to the team.

Robert Green (color commentator)

Rae will team up with former England goalkeeper Robert Green in the commentary booth, a man who had an extensive playing career, including 267 Premier League appearances for Norwich City, QPR and West Ham United. Green is probably best known to US soccer fans for his error at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which allowed Clint Dempsey to earn a vital point for the USMNT against England in South Africa. Since retirement, Green has become a commentator, working for FOX during UEFA Euro 2024. However, this summer marks his return to the biggest tournament as a broadcaster, 16 years after playing in it.

Darren Fletcher (Play-by-play commentator)

Also on lead commentary at the tournament will be Darren Fletcher, who has been a mainstay on British TV for well over a decade. Fletcher has previously commentated on FIFA World Cups for radio in the UK, but has more recently become the voice of TNT Sports. As a result, he has become associated with the biggest games in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. This summer, expect to hear his trademark voice over so many of the tournament’s biggest moments.

Owen Hargreaves (color commentator)

The Canadian-born Hargreaves was best known for an impressive playing career that saw him lift the UEFA Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United. As a broadcaster, he’s spent years covering the Premier League internationally on Premier League TV, as well as extensive experience on TNT Sports. During this tournament, Hargreaves will be paired up with Darren Fletcher, with the two providing analysis on many of the tournament’s biggest games.

Warren Barton (Color commentator)

Also on the FOX team this summer is ex-Wimbledon and Newcastle United man Warren Barton, who managed three caps for England back in 1995. During his playing days, Barton was the most expensive defender in English history, but since his retirement he’s become a prominent broadcaster, working for FOX Sports 1 and ITV since hanging up his boots. 

Jacqui Oatley (Play-by-play commentator)

Barton will team up with Jacqui Oatley, who’s no stranger to the big stage. Back in 2007, Oatley made history as the first ever female commentator in the history of Match of the Day, and since then, she’s continued to make history, commentating on the 2022 FIFA World Cup for FOX as their first ever female lead commentator. Oatley has been in the game for a long time, having also worked for CBS Sports and for the NWSL, as one of the lead female voices in the sport.

Ian Crocker (Play-by-play commentator)

Another man making his FOX debut is English commentator Ian Crocker, who’s spent much of his broadcasting career in the UK, with a particular focus on Scottish football. Crocker is the long-time voice of Scottish football on Sky Sports, and he’s also commentated for the Premier League’s in-house broadcaster for many years. However, this is his first taste of doing a World Cup for FOX, having been signed up this season.

Danny Higginbotham (Color commentator)

Joining Crocker in the booth will be former Stoke City, Sunderland and Southampton man Danny Higginbotham. Higginbotham was a no-nonsense defender during his playing days, and he’s since transitioned into a broadcaster on NBC Sports’ coverage of the Premier League. This summer marks his debut with FOX Sports, as he steps into the booth at a World Cup for the first time.

Reporters

Beyond the commentary teams, FOX have also signed up five reporters who will be on screen constantly during the tournament. First up is long-time Sky Sports correspondent Geoff Shreeves, who has been a regular on British TV since 1999, generally covering Premier League football. Also on the team is Alex Aljoe, an English reporter who’s risen to prominence partly due to her ability to conduct interviews in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and French.

Another English addition to the roster is Katie Shanahan, who worked on the last FIFA Women’s World Cup for ITV in the UK. She’s joined by Jenny Taft, who has previously covered the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as three editions of the Women’s World Cup. Finally, Brazilian reporter Natalie Gedra completes the team, bringing extensive experience as a matchday reporter for Sky Sports, as well as appearing on television in her home country of Brazil.