“This is fun. If you cannot have fun, I have no time for you.”Those were the words of Alexi Lalas as Fox Sports opened its coverage of the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay — and it quickly became the theme.Even if you knew nothing about football, this was a broadcast designed to make you feel welcome.There were appearances from Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Elmo and Cookie Monster popped up, too. Viewers were treated to throwback footage from World Cup ’94. There was even unexpected swearing on live television.Cameras were everywhere: in the stands, on the sidelines, in the parking lot, on the red carpet and out on the streets.The message was impossible to miss and the tone was set for something closer to a national sporting spectacle than a normal soccer broadcast.Setting the sceneThe official build-up to kick-off had barely begun on Fox Sports before it became obvious this was not going to be a conventional World Cup game.The day was still young and much of the focus remained on Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina when the entertainment — and the edge — began to creep in.Fox Sports were out in force with presenter Rebecca Lowe alongside, from left, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Alexi Lalas (Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports via Getty Images)Jesse Marsch, the former USMNT assistant now coaching Canada, had suggested that during his time with the American team, players occasionally had to be encouraged to sing the national anthem.When those comments were relayed on air, to Clint Dempsey, the former U.S. star, he did not hide his feelings.“I’m someone who’s bled for this country,” Dempsey said. “I broke my nose playing for this country. I’ve come back from two heart procedures and played for this country.“I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and is singing another country’s national anthem.” Spicy.Elsewhere, presenter Rebecca Lowe was attempting to navigate a promotional segment featuring James Corden when Lalas delivered a line that left Lowe and studio partner Thierry Henry momentarily stunned.“Can we talk about James Corden for a second?” Lowe asked.“What do you guys call him?,” said Lalas. “A … full-kit w*****, right?”Lalas, a member of the United States’ 1994 World Cup squad, was clearly intent on bringing that same sense of looseness and irreverence to Fox’s coverage three decades later.Pre-match hypeThree hours before kick-off, Fox’s coverage of the match officially began, and the network wasted little time in poking fun at itself.Amid montage footage of fans in the streets displaying varying degrees of game understanding, Mahomes appeared on screen. “This is what it takes, apparently. An American football player explaining the world’s game.”On set inside the stadium, Lowe anchored proceedings alongside Zlatan Ibrahimović, Henry and Lalas, while Dempsey and Landon Donovan joined Rob Stone pitchside to soak up the atmosphere and reflect on their World Cup memories.Stu Holden worked the crowd from a stage in the parking lot, while Jenny Taft tracked the U.S. team bus en route to the stadium — a touch that felt reminiscent of how British broadcasters once treated FA Cup final day.Then came the red carpet.This is not something dedicated football followers would typically expect (or want) to see… but this is Fox. The network is not producing a broadcast solely for soccer fans, it is targeting the widest possible audience — borrowing from its NFL coverage and leaning into the entertainment-driven style of American sports television.They fully embraced the Hollywood setting. Charissa Thompson and Jameis Winston welcomed celebrity guests, beginning with Elmo and Cookie Monster.“Don’t crumble under pressure,” Cookie Monster advised the USMNT.Two hours before kick-off, Fox rolled back the years with a nostalgic look at World Cup 1994. Grainy footage of Diana Ross, Bill Clinton and Diego Maradona served as a reminder of just how long it has been since the U.S. last hosted the tournament, with references to AOL, video stores and 1990s pop culture reinforcing the message.Viewers were taken back to that famous afternoon at the Rose Bowl, when Roberto Baggio blazed his penalty over the bar and Brazil were crowned world champions.When NFL legend Brady then provided a voiceover in the final hour, the stage was firmly set.The occasion felt huge — and unmistakably American.Analysis and in-game coverageAnalyst Holden was alongside lead commentator John Strong to call the game, and some viewers on social media platform X lamented the pairing. Inside Los Angeles Stadium, FIFA’s name for SoFi, the noise was so intense that the duo were occasionally difficult to hear.Overall, though, their role was fulfilled as they managed to talk new fans and experienced viewers through the game.Holden stood out for his reading of the game. His analysis of the U.S. tactical adjustments after Christian Pulisic’s halftime withdrawal was sharp.On the sidelines, Taft added valuable color and context away from the main broadcast. Her reporting on Pulisic was particularly notable, describing how he acknowledged family and friends with a “I’m good” gesture, as concern briefly grew over a potential injury.In the studio, the pundits’ task at half-time was relatively straightforward after a dominant opening 45 minutes from the USMNT, who raced into a 3-0 lead.Lowe was almost losing her voice, while Lalas was effusive: “That’s the greatest half of group-stage play from a men’s team at a World Cup in history. Everything went right. It was total dominance from top to bottom.”Henry pointed to tactical superiority and overloads, while Ibrahimović provided the hot take.As a nation purred over Folarin Balogun’s two-goal display, the former Sweden forward noted: “He should have had a hat-trick — if he had shot instead of passing on that other chance, he would have scored another.” Fair enough.Fox Sports’ Rob Stone alongside US internationals, from left, Carli Lloyd, Clint Dempsey, and Stu Holden (Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports via Getty Images)It was a strong day for the team and the broadcast.Some viewers would have been turned off by the Americana of it all. Some would not have liked that it was dumbed down for casual fans. But what did you expect?Perhaps the only thing that did not work well on the day was pop culture references from the commentary team.As Balogun was substituted in the second half, Holden noted he was receiving an “ovation from the crowd.”It was extremely loud, prompting Strong to retort that it might be for him — or it might be for Hilary Duff, who was being shown on the big screen.“There’s a Party in the USA,” quipped Holden, before quickly realizing his mistake. “Oh no… that’s Miley Cyrus — we’re struggling with our references,” he laughed.It was all in good humor, fitting a broadcast where levity was a prevailing tone.In the wake of the win, coverage returned to the parking lot, where Dempsey, Donovan and Carli Lloyd were surrounded by hundreds of wild fans, chanting “USA, USA, USA.”The match had been a resounding success on the field — and the broadcast wasn’t bad either. Everyone was having fun. It was impossible not to.