Does Zlatan Ibrahimovic actually hate Alexi Lalas? Rebecca Lowe weighs in
FOX Sports has received mixed reviews for its coverage of the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.
Whether positively or negatively, the chemistry, or lack thereof, between Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Alexi Lalas at the studio desk has the people talking.
Ibrahimovic, universally known mononymously as Zlatan, is used to going viral. His legend looms so large over world football that “Ted Lesso” created a character in his image. Over the past week, his apparent distaste for whatever Lalas says has generated multiple headlines.
Most recently, Lalas was reassigned to the on-site broadcast for the United States’ victory over Australia in Seattle on Friday. Lowe opened the postgame studio broadcast by saying, “Chaps, Alexi left us!” Zlatan quipped, “Who?” Later, he added, “America, you’re welcome.”
Zlatan left Dan Patrick no choice but to ask Lowe, “Are you worried that Zlatan may punch Alexi Lalas on the show?”
Lowe cracked up before responding, “Absolutely no chance, by the way. No chance! There is a lot of respect, I can promise you that, between everybody. I don’t care what people think they know. They see stuff. It’s not right, Dan. Everyone loves each other, I promise.”
Lowe is the best of the best, so I’ll take her at her word that there is love and respect on set, but there’s plenty of reasons to believe tension exists between Zlatan and Lalas, a former USMNT player and polarizing FOX soccer analyst.
Lalas once called Zlatan “weak sauce” after the Swedish icon declined to do postgame media as a member of the LA Galaxy in October 2018. Zlatan played in MLS from 2018-19 before finishing his career with AC Milan of Serie A.
Maybe Zlatan is genuinely annoyed. Maybe not. But Lalas has openly spoken about his awareness of what makes good television.
“When I go on TV, I put on a costume and when that red light goes on, I don’t want people changing the channel,” Lalas told The Athletic in June 2024. “I don’t care if you like me or you don’t. I am as human as I possibly can be with the recognition that, on television, things have to be bigger and bolder.”
