It's a lesson in humility that no journalism school can teach. ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez found herself in hot water after a pregame segment went viral for all the wrong reasons.
With the United States men's national team preparing to face Bosnia in the World Cup's Round of 32, Velez decided to fire up the crowd with some on-air trash talk. Unfortunately, her attempt at bravado came off as ignorant and insulting.
“I could not point out where it is on a map,” Velez said of Bosnia during the broadcast. “I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don’t wanna know. That’s because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever.” She then added a warning: “That’s next Wednesday. Get prepared, Bosnia, because you don’t want it. You don’t want it like that. But you’re gonna get it.”
The internet, predictably, did not let it slide. Social media lit up with criticism, calling out the remarks as disrespectful and out of touch. The backlash was swift, and it didn't take long for Velez to realize she had crossed a line.
In a statement issued shortly after, Velez offered a full apology. “In a poor effort to have a little fun with World Cup competition, I took it too far and made a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate,” she wrote. “I apologize to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian football team. The World Cup is supposed to be about united communities around the world, and my comment didn’t reflect that spirit. Wishing all the teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
The incident comes at a time when the USMNT is riding high. For the first time since 2010, the Americans won their World Cup group, setting up a clash with Bosnia in Santa Clara. The match is a crucial opportunity to advance to the Round of 16. But the off-field drama has stolen some of the spotlight.
This isn't the first time a broadcaster has faced backlash for World Cup commentary. Earlier in the tournament, a world cup broadcaster issued an apology for racist comments aimed at Black players, highlighting the fine line between hype and harm.
For the USMNT, the focus now returns to the pitch. The team will look to back up their group-stage success with a strong performance against a motivated Bosnia side. As the world cup round of 32 nearly set, every match carries immense weight.
Velez's apology may help mend fences, but the moment serves as a reminder that the World Cup is a global celebration—one that deserves respect for every nation and team involved.
