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Fox Sports Denies Claims Executives Criticized ESPN's World Cup Coverage

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Fox Sports spokesperson denied a report that Fox executives were upset with ESPN’s World Cup coverage.
The denial followed a Front Office Sports story alleging unnamed Fox executives criticized ESPN for insufficient World Cup coverage, a claim that Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Traina called off-base.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand shared the spokesperson’s comments, calling the story false, while Traina discussed the episode on his “Traina Thoughts” podcast.

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Story summary

Fox Sports spokesperson denied a report that Fox executives were upset with ESPN’s World Cup coverage.
The denial followed a Front Office Sports story alleging unnamed Fox executives criticized ESPN for insufficient World Cup coverage, a claim that Sports Illustrated writer Jimmy Traina called off-base.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand shared the spokesperson’s comments, calling the story false, while Traina discussed the episode on his “Traina Thoughts” podcast.