Reporter's Awkward World Cup Cross Goes Viral
- During 2026 FIFA World Cup pregame coverage, ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez sparked controversy by stating she could not locate Bosnia on a map and had no interest in learning about the country.
- Until recently, Velez was a lesser-known field reporter covering local news and community stories for the station; her live remarks ahead of the United States' World Cup match suddenly thrust her into the international spotlight.
- Bosnian Football highlighted the irony after Velez claimed, "I don't know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don't wanna know." The official account noted the President of ABC News is Bosnian.
- Following a barrage of criticism, Velez released an apology on Sunday morning. "I took it too far and made a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate," she wrote.
- The incident drew backlash from international soccer fans and American viewers alike, with critics arguing that expressing ignorance about a participating nation undermines the unifying spirit of the World Cup.
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47 Articles
The spokesman-Review
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Reporter Abigail Velez Is an Embarrassment to the U.S. and ABC
ABC reporter Abigail Velez didn’t just misspeak before the World Cup match between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina — she proudly advertised her ignorance. On air, she declared, “One thing about Bosnia — I could not point out where it is on a map. I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don’t want to know. That’s because Team USA — we’re back, we’re better than ever.”This wasn’t patriotism. It was arrogance dressed up as enthusiasm. …
Reporter's awkward World Cup cross goes viral
An American reporter has gone viral for her disrespectful comments about the Bosnian World Cup soccer team. ABC7 reporter Abigail Velez proudly claimed during her live cross following USMNT’s loss to Turkey that she couldn’t tell you where Bosnia was located on a map and didn’t know anything about the country. “I could not point out where it is on a map,” Velez said during the ABC7 live news report. “I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia, an…
US Reporter Slammed After Saying 'I Don't Want to Know' Anything About Bosnia Ahead of World Cup Clash
An American television reporter is at the centre of an international backlash after boasting live on air that she did not know where Bosnia and Herzegovina was and 'didn't want to know', just days before the United States is due to face the Balkan nation at the World Cup. The remarks came from Abigail Velez, a reporter for ABC7 Los Angeles, during a live broadcast from a United States men's national team viewing party in Long Beach, California, …
Speaking about the team that will face the US team in the mata mata, Abigail Vélez said he wouldn't know where the country is on the map and don't want to know anything about the country.
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