US Journalist Apologizes for Dismissive Comments About Bosnia Before World Cup Match
ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez sparked controversy by stating on live TV she could not locate Bosnia on a map and did not wish to learn about the country, framing it as trash talk ahead of the US-Bosnia 2026 World Cup round-of-32 match. The clip went viral, drawing widespread criticism. Velez later apologized on Instagram, calling her remarks "thoughtless," "insensitive," and "inappropriate." The match is scheduled in San Francisco, with both teams advancing from their groups.
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US TV presenter apologizes for 'insensitive' Bosnia comments before USMNT World Cup clash
ABC7 TV presenter Abigail Velez has publicly apologized for making insensitive comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina during a report on the upcoming USMNT World Cup last-32 match. While discussing the fixture, Velez said she could not locate Bosnia on a map and stated, 'I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don’t wanna know.' The clip went viral and drew criticism. In a social media statement on June 28, 2026, Velez described her comment as 'thoughtless,' 'insensitive and inappropriate,' and apologized to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian football team, acknowledging that the World Cup should unite communities. The USMNT, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, won Group D and will face Bosnia in San Francisco. The article also notes that the USMNT is favored to advance, with star player Christian Pulisic fit again.
Yardbarker: SoccerUS Journalist Apologizes for Ignorant Remarks About Bosnia and Herzegovina During World Cup Coverage
ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez issued an apology after making controversial remarks about Bosnia and Herzegovina during World Cup coverage. Following the US team's advancement to the Round of 32 as Group D winners, Velez said on live TV that she could not locate Bosnia on a map, knew nothing about the country, and did not want to learn, claiming US soccer was too strong for Bosnia. Critics condemned the comments as willful ignorance. Velez later apologized on social media, stating she crossed the line trying to make coverage more fun and that her words failed to reflect the World Cup's unifying spirit. The US will face Bosnia in the Round of 32 on July 2 at the Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco.
虎扑 - 足球World Cup reporter apologises for 'inappropriate' Bosnia comments ahead of USA clash
ABC Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez issued a public apology after making inappropriate comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the USA's Round of 32 World Cup match. In a news segment, Velez said she could not find Bosnia on a map and did not want to know about the country, boasting about American supremacy. The clip sparked online abuse, prompting Velez to apologize, stating her comments were insensitive and not in the spirit of the World Cup. The match is scheduled for next Wednesday in San Francisco, with the USA seeking its first World Cup knockout victory since 2002.
Mirror - FootballReporter Apologizes to Bosnia After Controversial Comments on US World Cup Opponent
ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez apologized to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina after making dismissive and stereotypical comments about the nation on live television. Following the US men's national team's group-stage win, Velez said she could not locate Bosnia on a map and did not want to know about it, adding 'you don't want it like that. But you're gonna get it.' The clip went viral, drawing widespread criticism. Velez issued an apology on Instagram, calling her remarks 'thoughtless,' 'insensitive,' and 'inappropriate.' The article also provides context: Bosnia qualified for the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in its history, finishing third in Group B, and will face the US in the round of 32 at Levi's Stadium. The Bosnian diaspora in the US, particularly in Georgia, has shown strong support for the team.
Soccer - The AthleticReporter Apologizes to Bosnia After Dismissive World Cup Comments
ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez issued an apology to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina after making dismissive and stereotypical comments about the nation during a live broadcast. Following the USMNT's group-stage win, Velez said she could not locate Bosnia on a map, knew nothing about the country, and didn't want to know, in an attempt at pre-match trash talk. The clip went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. Velez apologized on Instagram, calling her remarks 'thoughtless,' 'insensitive,' and 'inappropriate,' and acknowledged the World Cup's spirit of unity. The article also provides context: Bosnia advanced to the knockout stage for the first time since 2014, will face the US on Wednesday at Levi's Stadium, and has strong diaspora support in Atlanta. The US won its group for the first time since 2010.
Soccer - The AthleticReporter apologizes to 'people of Bosnia' after comments on USA's World Cup opponent
ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez issued an apology on Instagram after making derogatory on-air comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT's upcoming World Cup round-of-32 opponent. During a live broadcast, Velez stated she could not point out Bosnia on a map, knew nothing about the country, and did not want to know, while trash-talking the team. The clip went viral, prompting backlash. Velez apologized to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian football team, acknowledging her comments were 'thoughtless,' 'insensitive,' and violated the spirit of World Cup unity. Bosnia, which qualified for the knockout stage for the first time since its 2014 debut, has drawn significant fan support in the US, especially from the large Bosnian diaspora in Georgia. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Soccer - The AthleticAmerican Journalist Mocks Bosnia Ahead of 2026 World Cup Match, Cannot Place It on a Map
A video segment from ABC 7 Los Angeles, part of a 2026 World Cup preview show, has gone viral after journalist Abigail Velez (as identified by some users) made provocative remarks about Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the United States' round of 16 match. In the clip, Velez stated she could not locate Bosnia on a map and did not want to learn about the country, framing her comments as sports trash talk. The video sparked widespread reactions on social media, with some criticizing the lack of professionalism and others defending it as typical American sports banter. The article, published by Foot Mercato on June 27, 2026, highlights the cultural clash and the controversy surrounding the build-up to the match.
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