World Cup fans are voicing their frustration after FOX Sports' coverage of Wednesday's match between England and DR Congo was widely perceived as heavily biased in favor of the Three Lions. The controversy erupted during the game, when studio host Rebecca Lowe accidentally let slip her allegiance while discussing England's reliance on star striker Harry Kane.
Lowe, alongside co-hosts Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, asked if "we"—meaning England—depend too much on Kane after his two-goal performance in a 2-1 win. She quickly corrected herself, but the damage was done. Many viewers took to social media to accuse FOX's British-heavy broadcast team of favoring their home country over the underdog Congolese side.
"FOX gotta ditch these British play-by-play guys. Holy bias!" one fan wrote on X. Another added, "The bias on @FOXSports is glaring. The commentators are losing their minds screaming for England penalties, yet when Ghana or other African nations get completely denied obvious penalties, there's total silence. The double standard & casual racism in this coverage is exhausting."
The match itself was a thriller, with DR Congo taking a surprising 1-0 lead into halftime. But fans argued that FOX's announcers—including Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves—showed little excitement for the underdog's achievement, instead focusing on England's struggles. "Biased commentators on Fox Sports," another user posted simply.
This isn't the first time the network's coverage has drawn criticism during the tournament. Some fans have pointed to a pattern of favoring traditional powerhouses over emerging teams, a trend that has sparked broader conversations about media representation in global sports. The issue also echoes debates around how broadcasters handle sensitive moments during high-stakes matches.
Not everyone was unhappy with FOX's approach. "The play by play announce teams on FOX for the World Cup have been brilliant. Exciting, well prepared and quick with a turn of phrase. In the studio, Rebecca Lowe is fantastic and Zlatan is not only strong in his analysis but hilarious," one viewer countered, showing the divide in audience opinion.
Still, the backlash was loud enough to dominate online conversations. For many, the incident highlighted a deeper issue: the challenge of maintaining impartiality when announcers have clear national ties. As one fan put it, "How do you call that a penalty?" in reference to a controversial decision that seemed to favor England.
With the World Cup heating up, FOX may need to address these concerns to keep its audience engaged. As teams like Micah Parsons returns to Dallas for a World Cup match, the network's ability to balance passion with professionalism will be under scrutiny. For now, fans are making it clear: they want coverage that celebrates all teams, not just the favorites.
