FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks isn’t worried about the noise that network analyst Alexi Lalas created during the FIFA World Cup 2026. He says it means Alexi Lalas is working.
What We Know: Lalas has served as FOX Sports’ lead soccer analyst since January 2015, following years at ESPN. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he held a prominent studio role and drew heavy criticism online for his commentary style and information. Despite that, Shanks tells Variety that Lalas’ profile has grown well beyond the sport’s core fanbase. A month ago, per Shanks, Lalas was known mostly to soccer die-hards. Now, he’s an obsession for many casual viewers.
What They Said: FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks (via Variety): “That is what everybody hopes for when you produce television. The worst thing in the world is showing something and finding out that people didn’t care…. [A wider crowd is now] obsessed with him. That’s incredible.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether that wider attention converts into long-term goodwill for Lalas is unclear. FOX’s soccer rights also carry uncertainty beyond this year. The network’s FIFA contract is now expired, and 2030 negotiations haven’t begun.
What It Means: Shanks is reframing backlash as proof of engagement, not a problem. Despite heavy online criticism towards Lalas performance, Shanks says reaction was the goal. In expanding the audience during the FIFA World Cup, Lalas’ profile has reached a new level. For FOX, provoking a reaction beats being ignored entirely. For Lalas, criticism appears to be raising his profile, not threatening his job.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.