A Los Angeles reporter has ignited a firestorm of criticism after making dismissive comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the USMNT's World Cup Round of 32 showdown. Abigail Velez of ABC 7 is now facing intense backlash for what many are calling a blatant display of ignorance on the global stage.
During a preview segment, Velez confidently declared she couldn't locate Bosnia on a map and didn't care to learn about the nation. 'I don't know the first thing about Bosnia and I don't want to know,' she said. 'That's because Team USA, we're back and better than ever. Be prepared Bosnia, because you don't want it like that.'
The remarks quickly went viral, drawing scorn not only from Bosnian fans but also from many American supporters who found the comments embarrassing. Social media erupted with calls for Velez to be fired, with one user writing, 'For the love of all that is right in the world, please Bosnia, please send them crashing back down to Earth, and beat them in the round of 32.'
Others criticized the broader culture of celebrating ignorance. 'Normalise shaming people for being proud of their ignorance,' one commenter wrote. Another added, 'Would love so much if we, as a society, could get back to shaming people for ignorance and stupidity instead of celebrating it. Deeply embarrassing.'
The backlash has been so severe that Velez has since protected her X account, likely to shield herself from a flood of negative messages. While threats and harassment are never acceptable, the incident serves as a stark reminder that proud ignorance rarely wins admirers.
Bosnia, a nation with a passionate football culture, now has plenty of bulletin-board material heading into the match. The USMNT, heavily favored by oddsmakers, will face a motivated opponent looking to prove a point. The game is set for July 1 at 8 PM ET, as noted in the official schedule for the round of 32.
This controversy echoes other moments when off-field comments have fueled on-field fire. For instance, Colin Cowherd's recent remarks about the USMNT's readiness also stirred debate, though with less outright dismissal of an opponent.
As the World Cup continues to captivate global audiences, the incident highlights how quickly a misplaced comment can overshadow the sport itself. Whether Velez faces professional consequences remains to be seen, but the damage to her reputation is already done.
