A television reporter's attempt at some World Cup trash talk didn't exactly go according to plan.
Videos by FanBuzz
ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez found herself facing criticism after making comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina during a live report following the U.S. men's national team's match against Turkey.
While previewing Team USA's next World Cup opponent, Velez joked that she couldn't point to Bosnia on a map and added that she didn't want to know because the United States was "back" and ready for the matchup.
She also ended the segment by telling Bosnia to "get prepared" for the upcoming game.
The remarks quickly made the rounds on social media, where many viewers said the comments missed the mark.
My goodness, the stereotypes write themselves……🤷♂️ #FIFAWorldCup 🇧🇦🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UGj3uudcYL
— Bosnian Football (@BosniaNTBall) June 27, 2026
Some called the joke insensitive, while others argued that not knowing where another country is located isn't something to brag about.
One widely shared response read, "Some competitive talk is always fun, but that's not the way to do it."
As criticism mounted, Velez addressed the controversy with a public apology posted to X.
"In a poor effort to have a little fun with World Cup competition, I took it too far and made a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate," she wrote.
Velez also apologized directly to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian national team, adding that the World Cup "is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world" and acknowledging that her remarks didn't reflect that spirit.
The United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina are scheduled to meet Wednesday in the World Cup knockout stage, though the conversation surrounding the match has already started a few days early for reasons few probably expected.
