FOX Sports Reveals Star-Studded Broadcast Team for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
John Strong and Stu Holden Return as Lead Broadcast Booth with All Five Broadcast Teams Calling Every Match On-Location for the First Time
Largest Group of Former U.S. Soccer Legends to Ever Cover a FIFA World Cup™ Features Alexi Lalas, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Aly Wagner, Carli Lloyd, Cobi Jones, Maurice Edu and Stu Holden
Ian Darke, Jacqui Oatley, Tom Rinaldi, Mark Clattenburg, Clint Dempsey, Carli Lloyd, Landon Donovan and Chad Johnson Make FOX Sports World Cup Broadcaster Debuts
Breakfast, Lunch and Winners: 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM ET Start Times Provide Fans with New Morning Routine Through Round of 16
LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s official English-language home for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, today celebrates the fast-approaching start to the world’s greatest sporting event with a picture-perfect unveiling of its world-class broadcast team anchoring the network’s comprehensive tournament coverage. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ begins on Sunday, Nov. 20 with a majority of the group stage matches featuring 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM ET start times through the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. 18.
David Neal, Executive Producer of FIFA World Cup™ on FOX and Vice President of Production for FOX Sports, made today’s announcement in spotlighting the broadcast team.
“We couldn’t be more excited with the talented team of announcers, reporters and analysts we’ve assembled for FOX Sports’ highly anticipated presentation,” said Neal. “Our goal was to build a well-rounded group who could collectively connect with viewers and cover the tournament at its highest level. The USMNT’s exciting return to the competition also gave us the opportunity to bring together some of the biggest household names to ever represent the U.S. on the world stage. With just under 50 days to go to the opening match, we look forward to bringing our preeminent roster of soccer commentators and experts to Qatar as they prepare to call every thrilling match and cover every amazing storyline.”
Five incredibly unique announce teams comprise FOX Sports’ roster of play-by-play commentators and match analysts calling matches at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The dynamic John Strong and former U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) star Stu Holden anchor the lead broadcast booth for FOX Sports. The Strong-Holden pairing has called more than 250 soccer matches together since 2014 – more than any other English-language television duo – and will surpass the 300-match mark in Qatar. Veteran play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera pairs with former USMNT legend Cobi Jones, while former U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) sensation Aly Wagner partners with the distinguished Derek Rae. The Rae-Wagner pairing reunites in Qatar after successfully calling matches together for the men’s tournament in 2018. In a serendipitous assignment, the venerable Ian Darke makes his FOX Sports play-by-play debut alongside USMNT icon Landon Donovan. In 2010, Darke captured the hearts of American soccer fans when he called Donovan’s memorable injury-time goal for the U.S. against Algeria. Former England defender Warren Barton joins the esteemed Jacqui Oatley to round out the announcer pairings. Match assignments will be announced before the tournament begins.
Lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas, along with fellow U.S. soccer legends Clint Dempsey, Carli Lloyd and Maurice Edu, headline FOX Sports’ list of former soccer stars providing expert insights at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Two former goal-scoring machines for the England Women’s National Team, Eni Aluko and Kelly Smith, join the studio analyst roster with their perspectives, while former NFL star Chad Johnson makes his FOX Sports debut as a contributing analyst.
Rob Stone returns as lead host for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ anchoring studio coverage throughout the tournament from the FOX Sports set in Doha, while acclaimed host Kate Abdo is back as lead host of FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT. Trusted reporters covering all the FIFA World Cup™ action include Jenny Taft, Rodolfo Landeros and Geoff Shreeves. Tom Rinaldi, 17-time Emmy Award winning storyteller, joins as a reporter and feature correspondent for the first FIFA World Cup™ of his career. Finally, FOX Sports will bring two acclaimed rules analysts to Qatar in former referees Dr. Joe Machnik and Mark Clattenburg.
FOX Sports Announcers for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™:
Play-by-Play / Match Analysts
John Strong and Stu Holden
Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
JP Dellacamera and Cobi Jones
Ian Darke and Landon Donovan
Jacqui Oatley and Warren Barton
Studio Analysts
Alexi Lalas
Carli Lloyd
Chad Johnson
Clint Dempsey
Eni Aluko
Kelly Smith
Maurice Edu
Studio Hosts
Rob Stone
Kate Abdo
Reporters
Jenny Taft
Rodolfo Landeros
Geoff Shreeves
Feature Correspondent
Tom Rinaldi
Rules Analysts
Dr. Joe Machnik
Mark Clattenburg
Additional 50-Day Highlights:
- For the first time in FOX Sports’ World Cup history, every announcer, reporter and analyst covering FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will travel to the host country. All 64 matches will feature FOX Sports play-by-play announcers and match analysts calling matches on-location, while all pre-and-postgame programming will originate from the FOX Sports set in Doha.
- FOX Sports will produce every FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ match in 4K. Additionally, every match will stream live in 4K on the FOX Sports app.
- Daytime becomes primetime this holiday season with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, starting Sunday, Nov. 20, at 11:00 AM ET when host country Qatar opens play vs. Ecuador on FS1. On Monday, Nov. 21 Harry Kane and England kick start the weekday schedule vs. IR Iran at 8:00 AM ET on FS1. The Senegal vs. Netherlands match at 11:00 AM ET lands on FOX, while Christian Pulisic and the USMNT battle Gareth Bale and Wales at 2:00 PM ET on FOX. Click here to view the FOX Sports’ broadcast schedule.
- 50 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Players in 50 Days with Stu Holden: FOX Sports digital’s award-winning video content continues counting down to Sunday, Nov. 20 with a new series featuring Holden highlighting his top 50 players competing in the tournament. Click through to watch #50 – Raúl Jiménez, #49 – Yunus Musah and #48 – Chucky Lozano, and follow @FOXSoccer on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to watch the series unfold.
Snapshot Biographies (click name for full bio and new photography):
Play-by-Play
John Strong is FOX Sports’ lead soccer play-by-play announcer and the signature voice on many of the biggest matches across the network. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ marks his third career FIFA World Cup™ as a FOX Sports commentator after serving as lead announcer at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™. Strong has called numerous prestigious matches throughout his career, including the FIFA World Cup Final in 2018. He made his tournament debut with FOX Sports on the call for FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.
JP Dellacamera is widely regarded as a pioneering voice for U.S. Soccer with a broadcasting career spanning 30 years. This year’s tournament will be his 16th FIFA World Cup™ (10 men’s, six women’s) between television and radio and his 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup™ as a broadcaster. The 2019 Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame recipient is also the lead television play-by-play voice for the Philadelphia Union (MLS), a position he has held since 2010.
Ian Darke makes his FOX Sports debut as a commentator at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, his eighth career FIFA World Cup™. He captured the hearts of American soccer fans during FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010™ when he called Landon Donovan’s injury-time goal against Algeria, which helped the United States advance to the knockout stage amid joyous scenes of celebration nationwide. He currently serves as lead commentator for Premier League and other major European league matches on BT Sport in the United Kingdom.
Derek Rae returns to FOX Sports for his 11th career FIFA World Cup™ as broadcaster. Rae has been involved in various capacities at every men’s FIFA World Cup™ since 1990. He currently serves as lead commentator on ESPN’s Bundesliga coverage and is synonymous with the Bundesliga around the world as a fluent German speaker. He also just completed his fifth year as the English-language voice of the iconic EA Sports video game, FIFA.
Jacqui Oatley joins FOX Sports as a new play-by-play announcer at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. She brings a wealth of FIFA World Cup™ experience to the network after spending summer of 2019 in France calling FIFA World Cup™ matches for the host broadcaster’s world feed. In 2018, she served as a host for ITV’s FIFA World Cup™ coverage in Russia. Oatley is widely heralded for her 20 years in broadcasting and making history as a soccer commentator. In 2005, she became the first woman to call a match on British network radio.
Match Analysts
Stu Holden is FOX Sports’ lead soccer match analyst for the network’s premier soccer coverage and returns to the broadcast team after successfully anchoring the lead match analyst role at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™. A USMNT veteran who rose through the ranks to represent America at the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2009 and 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cups and FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010™, Holden officially retired from the sport in 2016 with 25 caps for the U.S.
Cobi Jones, a three-time FIFA World Cup™ veteran as a player and the standing record holder for most appearances in USMNT history with 164 caps, is back with FOX Sports for his second FIFA World Cup™ in the broadcast booth. For the past three decades, he’s served as an American soccer icon, both on and off the pitch. He’s currently an ambassador for the U.S. Soccer Foundation and lead match analyst for Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) matches. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.
Landon Donovan is a new addition to the match analyst group in his second FIFA World Cup™ as a broadcaster. Donovan makes his FOX Sports World Cup debut after contributing to the network’s Copa America Centenario coverage in 2016. Donovan’s decorated and celebrated career as an American soccer icon featured three FIFA World Cup™ appearances as a player for the U.S. and countless memorable goals. He retired from the game in 2018 tied with former teammate Clint Dempsey for the title of all-time leading scorer in USMNT history with 57 goals Donovan currently serves as Executive Vice President and Manager for the San Diego Loyal (USL).
Aly Wagner returns to FOX Sports for her third FIFA World Cup™ as a broadcaster after she made history at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ as the first woman to ever call a men’s FIFA World Cup™ match on U.S. television. A mainstay on the USWNT from 1999 – 2008 and feature member of the squad at the 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cups™, Wagner netted 21 goals and notched 42 assists across 131 caps as a player on the international stage.
Warren Barton, a former defender for the England National Team who rose to prominence while playing for Newcastle United (Premier League), is a decorated FOX Sports analyst and commentator who returns to the network after successfully calling matches at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™. In May 2012, he called the first-ever all-German UEFA Champions League Final, live from Wembley Stadium.
Studio Analysts
Alexi Lalas is FOX Sports’ lead studio analyst for soccer, a role he’s flourished in since joining the network in 2015. His signature red hair and fierce style of play helped the dynamic defender become one of the most recognizable faces in soccer. Lalas made his mark with the USMNT as a player during FIFA World Cup USA 1994™ and FIFA World Cup France 1998™. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006 and currently hosts ALEXI LALAS’ STATE OF THE UNION podcast.
Carli Lloyd makes her FIFA World Cup™ debut as an analyst with FOX Sports just over a year after retiring from the game of soccer as one the greatest players in USWNT history. Lloyd’s legendary international career concluded with 316 caps, good for third all-time internationally for both men and women. She represented the U.S. on the pitch across three different decades, including four World Cups and four Olympic Games. The highest scoring midfielder in U.S. history, Lloyd’s 134 career goals rank third all-time for the USWNT.
Chad Johnson makes his FOX Sports World Cup debut an analyst on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT. An 11-year NFL veteran, Johnson was a six-time NFL Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro who left a legacy on the field. In 2011, Johnson – then known as Chad Ochocinco – participated in a four-day trial with Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City. His passion for soccer has grown exponentially since then as both an avid fan and constant consumer of the beautiful game worldwide.
Eni Aluko joins FOX Sports in her third consecutive FIFA World Cup™ as an analyst. A natural goal scorer who rose to prominence with the England Women’s National Team from 2004 – 2016, Aluko netted 33 goals in 102 appearances for the Lionesses. She competed in three FIFA Women’s World Cups™, two UEFA Women’s Euros and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2014, Aluko made history when she became the first female analyst on BBC’s Match of the Day. She currently is the Director of Recruitment at Angel City Football Club (NWSL).
Clint Dempsey makes his debut as a FIFA World Cup™ analyst this year with FOX Sports. He brings a former player perspective in his new role having represented the U.S. at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups™, where he became the first and only USMNT player in squad history to score in three different tournaments. He retired from the game in 2018 tied with former teammate Landon Donovan for the title of all-time leading scorer in USMNT history with 57 goals. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Kelly Smith serves as a FOX Sports analyst in her fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup™ with the network. A former star forward on the England Women’s National Team, Smith competed in the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ tournaments, four UEFA European Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics. She retired from international play in 2015 with over 117 caps and currently stands as England’s second-highest goal scorer with 46 career goals. In college in the U.S., Smith broke records with Seton Hall University, then played professionally in various women’s pro leagues.
Maurice Edu heads to Qatar as the newly announced lead analyst on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT. He joined FOX Sports in 2018 following his retirement from professional soccer and made his FIFA World Cup™ debut as a broadcaster on the network’s coverage of FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. On the international stage, Edu earned 46 caps with the USMNT, representing the squad at the 2008 Summer Olympics and FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010™. He currently serves as an ambassador for the U.S. Soccer Foundation and lead match analyst for Atlanta United (MLS) matches.
Studio Hosts
Rob Stone returns as lead studio host for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Stone was the lead studio host of FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY during FOX Sports’ coverage of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ and hosted FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP LIVE and FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TODAY from the network’s Paris studio in 2019. Stone joined FOX Sports in 2012 and has since hosted coverage of Major League Soccer, the USMNT and USWNT, UEFA Champions League and much more.
Kate Abdo anchors the lead host role on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT in her fourth FIFA World Cup™ with FOX Sports following fantastic assignments at FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. The multilingual broadcaster and journalist has covered some of the most high-profile sporting events around the globe throughout her career.
Reporters
Jenny Taft is back for her fourth FIFA World Cup™ with FOX Sports after earning critical acclaim for her reporting during FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™. The following summer, during FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, she reported from match locations and traveled the country for a series of features showcasing the host nation. A versatile reporter for FOX Sports and a feature component of the network’s soccer and college football coverage, Taft anchors the lead reporter role in Qatar.
Rodolfo Landeros is a bilingual reporter and host who also works as a regular soccer commentator for FOX Deportes. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ represents his second FIFA World Cup™ as a broadcaster with FOX Sports after debuting in 2018. He also served as a host and sideline reporter on the network’s coverage of MLS, 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and USMNT World Cup qualifiers.
Geoff Shreeves decorated run as a reporter in the UK spans 30 years and he returns to FOX Sports for his second FIFA World Cup™ on the sidelines. Shreeves has also appeared as a sideline reporter for UEFA Champions League coverage on FOX Sports. He currently serves as sideline reporter on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage.
Feature Correspondent
Tom Rinaldi makes his FIFA World Cup™ career debut as a feature correspondent and reporter. The hailed veteran journalist joined FOX Sports in 2021 and currently contributes across the network’s world-class portfolio of live events. A 17-time Emmy Award winning storyteller and New York Times best-selling author, Rinaldi currently serves as lead reporter from FOX NFL’s top game of the week and executive producer, writer and host of the chart-topping WESLEY podcast docuseries.
Rules Analyst
Dr. Joe Machnik is a former FIFA and CONCACAF Match Commissioner who was inducted into National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018. An All-America goalkeeper at Long Island University, he coached his alma mater to the 1966 National Championship Game and is believed to be the only person to play in the NCAA Soccer Tournament, coach in three NCAA finals and referee a NCAA Championship.
Mark Clattenburg enjoyed a successful career as a referee on the international stage since working his first match 22 years ago. He refereed more than 450 Premier League matches over the course of 13 seasons and in 2016, the UEFA Champions League Final and UEFA European Championship Final. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be his second as a rules analyst after contributing to ITV’s coverage in 2018.
