FOX Sports Celebrates One Year to Go Until FIFA World Cup 26™
FIFA WORLD CUP 26™: ONE YEAR TO GO Show Live on FOX Friday, June 13 From South Beach Features Musical Performances
FIFA World Cup 26™ One Year to Go Announcement Tease Debuts Today (WATCH HERE)
Soccer Legends Serve Free Ice Cream from FIFA, FOX Sports Branded Trucks in New York City and Los Angeles
Countdown Creative Takes Over New York’s Times Square ‘Godzilla’ Screen
Special Episode of ‘Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union’ Podcast
SCORES Network, FOX Sports Team to Support Youth Development Through Soccer
FOX Sports Teams with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles for Festivities
LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports, America’s English-language home of the FIFA World Cup 26™, today celebrates the milestone one-year-to-go mark until the tournament’s awaited start next summer across North America with company-wide initiatives and coast-to-coast fun in honor of the special day.
“We couldn’t be more excited for FOX Sports to present the single biggest sporting event in history taking place in our own backyard next summer with the FIFA World Cup 26™,” said FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks. “With one year to go, this will be our largest production ever on a massive scale and we look forward to showcasing the greatest teams in soccer and all of their captivating storylines with this highly anticipated global tournament.”
To celebrate the countdown to the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 26™, which kicks off on Thursday, June 11, 2026, FOX Sports is activating around the world’s greatest sporting event in anticipation of the year ahead.
FOX Sports’ FIFA World Cup 26 One Year to Go highlights:
FIFA WORLD CUP 26™: ONE YEAR TO GO Special on FOX
FOX Sports broadcasters Charissa Thompson, Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden and Tom Rinaldi host a star-studded soccer celebration live from Miami’s famed South Beach on Friday, June 13. Coverage begins Friday in primetime at 8:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM PT on FOX.
Show highlights include interviews with FIFA dignitaries, an exclusive interview with Rinaldi and USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino, musical performances and much more.
FIRST THINGS FIRST on FS1 with Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes will originate live from South Beach earlier in the day starting at 3:00 PM ET.
On-Air Takeover
FOX Sports introduces an all-new FIFA World Cup 26™ one year to go announcement promo today that will air across FOX Sports networks, FOX affiliates, FOX Sports’ digital and social platforms, FOX News and FOX broadcast (WATCH HERE). Viewers will also see a special FIFA World Cup 26™ bug appearing on-screen throughout the day on FOX Sports networks.
Additionally, FOX Sports will roll out FIFA World Cup 26™ one year to go creative on New York’s Times Square Godzilla Board. Located between 45th and 46th Streets in Manhattan, it is considered the largest and most impactful digital screen in the world with the Godzilla screen reaching a top height of 43 feet tall.
Ice Cream Trucks in New York City and Los Angeles
Soccer fans in New York City will want to keep an eye out for the FOX Sports, FIFA World Cup branded ice cream truck parked at the FOX Square (48th and 6th) that will feature free ice cream, while supplies last, served by FOX Sports analysts and National Soccer Hall of Famers Alexi Lalas and Carli Lloyd starting at 11 AM ET.
In Los Angeles, soccer fans are in for a treat as FOX Sports broadcasters Stu Holden, Rob Stone and John Strong serve free ice cream, while supplies last, from the FOX Sports, FIFA World CupÔ branded ice cream truck scheduled to appear at the iconic Venice Beach Boardwalk (at Windward Ave) from 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM PT.
Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast
National Soccer Hall of Famer and FOX Sports’ lead soccer studio analyst Alexi Lalas debuts a special episode of his popular podcast “State of the Union” featuring Rob Stone.
SCORES NETWORK
FOX Sports is teaming up with non-profit partner SCORES Network and its chapters in Los Angeles and New York City to advance the organizations’ efforts to support whole child development through the teamwork of soccer, the creativity of poetry and the compassion of service-learning. Employees in Los Angeles and New York will participate in the organizations’ annual corporate soccer tournament, SCORES Cup, fundraising to make a lasting impact for the soccer-based youth development programming.
Youth from New York SCORES joined Alexi Lalas and Carli Lloyd on FOX & Friends between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM ET, celebrating the power of soccer for positive social change and the celebration of being one year out from the FIFA World Cup.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO LOS ANGELES
In Los Angeles, FOX Sports is teaming with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles to include youth from across the region to participate in the milestone festivities alongside Stu Holden, John Strong and Rob Stone. Through the organization’s Sports and Recreation program, Club kids participate in a variety of activities developing physical fitness, coordination and sportsmanship.
About FIFA World Cup 26
From Thursday, June 11, 2026 to Sunday, July 19, 2026, FOX Sports presents the biggest ever edition of the world’s great sporting event with 48 teams and 104 matches being played across North America in the FIFA World Cup 26™.
