Reporter apologizes to ‘people of Bosnia’ after comments on USA’s World Cup opponent
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez apologized after making insensitive comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina during a live broadcast about the upcoming World Cup match against the U.S. men's national team.
- Velez admitted she did not know where Bosnia was on the map and expressed disinterest in learning about the country, which sparked backlash and led to her public apology on Instagram.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history, finishing third in Group B with notable performances including a draw against Canada and a win over Qatar.
- The Bosnian team has received strong support, particularly from communities in Georgia, where local World Cup events are drawing large crowds of Bosnian fans.
- The U.S. team secured first place in their group for the first time since 2010 and will host Bosnia in the round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
