A FOX broadcaster took a clever swipe at England during their 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against Ghana. The England men’s national team was held to a frustrating scoreless draw against Ghana in its second World Cup group stage fixture on Tuesday, with one commentator’s sly remark certainly twisting the knife for British viewers.
The game was staged at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts — home of the NFL’s New England Patriots in the greater Boston area. The venue inspired FOX play-by-play commentator John Strong to tap into his American patriotism and deliver a cheeky quip just seconds after kickoff, poking fun at England’s defeat in the Revolutionary War some 250 years ago.
Just 45 seconds in, Strong remarked, “But as we know the English historically struggle here in Massachusetts, so what happens here today?”
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In soccer terms, Strong was questioning whether England — who had beaten Croatia 4-2 in their tournament opener — could maintain their impressive form and secure another three points against Ghana, reports the Mirror US.
The remark, however, was an unmistakable nod to the American Revolution, which ignited in Massachusetts in the mid-1770s and ultimately saw the British relinquish their hold on the colonies, falling to US forces in the Revolutionary War.
With this year’s Independence Day marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, Strong was undoubtedly playing to the American viewers tuned in to one of the day’s most anticipated World Cup matchups.
While the jab arrived less than 60 seconds into the contest, England ultimately did falter in a fixture they entered as overwhelming favorites to claim victory.
Ghana’s backline neutralized the English offense, including star forward Harry Kane, who squandered his team’s clearest opportunity of the afternoon when he launched a close-range effort over the bar in the 86th minute.
Following a sluggish opening hour, it wasn’t until the closing 15 minutes of the fixture that either side was able to create any significant scoring opportunities.
Ghana, aiming to advance to the World Cup knockout phase for the first time since 2010, had a compelling argument for a spot kick in the 79th when England defender Ezri Konsa brought down Prince Adu in the area, but the tackle was ruled legitimate, albeit controversially, by the official.
Kane’s blunder, which arrived on a rebound after Nico O’Reilly’s header bounced off the bar, was by far the Three Lions’ prime chance to seize the advantage and painfully echoed how England’s previous World Cup campaign concluded – Kane launching a penalty over the bar late in a 2-1 loss to France.
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