​During its World Cup coverage, Fox Sports leaned into its marquee hires Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thierry Henry, but it was the unsung analyst Carli Lloyd who truly shined on television after Team USA’s devastating 4-1 defeat to Belgium on Monday night. Following the Round of 16 collapse, Lloyd delivered blunt, incisive commentary with the blunt honesty of a player who has thrived on the sport’s biggest stages. A two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner with the USWNT in 2015 and 2019, Lloyd knows what it takes to perform under pressure, and she wasn’t shy about calling out the men’s team when necessary, suggesting they played with fear when it mattered most.
“It’s a bit of a downer for us being out here now after this loss. But I felt like they lost the game before they even stepped out onto the pitch,” Lloyd said. “I’m not sure why, and I don’t know the reasons. But just from the beginning, they were chasing, tentative, scared, not confident on the ball. And I think big-time players—you wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moments.” In Lloyd’s view, star performances are essential at the World Cup, and she didn’t mince words when pointing out Christian Pulisic’s underwhelming showing at the tournament’s most critical juncture. Lloyd noted that Pulisic, who has had moments of brilliance, went goalless throughout the 2026 World Cup and, on Monday, lost possession 11 times in 45 minutes—the most of any player on the pitch, per ESPN FC—before being withdrawn due to injury in the 59th minute.
“I’ve got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic,” Lloyd said. “Whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game, and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.” Lloyd’s unvarnished critique underscored a broader point: accountability at the highest level of the sport.
Lloyd’s forthright analysis bodes well for her future in television. With Netflix holding U.S. rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups, her perspective could be pivotal as planners consider next year’s coverage. If I were assembling a broadcast team for that event, Lloyd would be at the top of my wish list, with her agent right behind her.
Fox’s veteran analyst Alexi Lalas also did not sugarcoat the performance, even as he faced backlash for his forthright stance against the team and the fanbase. He criticized the United States for choosing the wrong moment to execute poorly, arguing that the players ultimately delivered a disappointing performance, turning a moment of potential triumph into a quiet exit. He acknowledged that the squad had won hearts and minds and drawn people into the sport’s tent, but he warned that moral victories don’t move the needle for a team that aims for the sport’s top honors. His verdict was clear: while the team’s impact on the culture of American soccer is significant, there is no room for complacency after a stumble of this magnitude.