LOS ANGELES — Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of soccer’s most colorful personalities, made his debut appearance as a World Cup broadcaster on Fox Sports while appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where he offered blunt opinions on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and shared stories from his playing career.
The former striker, who will cover the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Fox, sat down with host Jimmy Kimmel and discussed his transition from the pitch to the booth, his time playing in Major League Soccer with the LA Galaxy, and memorable moments involving fellow stars.
When asked who is the better player between Messi and Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic gave a characteristically confident answer. “After Messi won his World Cup? He put the bar and he closed the door,” he said, suggesting Messi’s 2022 triumph gave him the edge in their long-running debate.
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Ibrahimovic, who played in two World Cups for Sweden, acknowledged the greatness of both players but positioned Messi’s international success as decisive. His comments reflect the ongoing global conversation about the two icons as they prepare for what could be their final World Cup appearances in 2026.
Broadcasting Career and On-Air Persona
Ibrahimovic revealed he is approaching his broadcasting role with the same bold energy that defined his playing career. “I’m the only one that doesn’t have a script. The other ones follow script and I’m there just to be myself,” he told Kimmel. “They want Zlatan. I’m going to bring them Zlatan.”
He compared himself to NBA legend Charles Barkley, known for his outspoken commentary. “I feel good. Something new in front of the cameras in different way,” Ibrahimovic said. “I have nothing. They cannot judge me because it’s not my job. So I cannot do wrong. I can only do good.”
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The former Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and AC Milan star expressed excitement about working in front of American audiences during the World Cup. “American people is going to fall asleep and I’m there to wake them up,” he joked, promising to bring energy to the broadcast.
MLS Experience and American Soccer Fans
Ibrahimovic spent two seasons with the LA Galaxy and reflected fondly on his time in the United States. “The life was good. Was easygoing, less stress,” he said. However, he contrasted the atmosphere with European football, describing American fans as “soft” in comparison.
“In Europe, you lose a game. People, they don’t wait outside your car. They wait outside your home,” he explained. “And not with tacos in their hand, with something else. That’s different level. Different pressure.”
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He recounted an incident in Marseille where fans threw knives onto the pitch during a match, highlighting the intensity of European soccer culture. “When we were scoring, so when you do your celebration, you go versus the flag in the corners. And then when I saw a knife coming, I was like, ‘Guys, next goal we score, we celebrate in the middle. We don’t go on the sides.’”
Despite the cultural differences, Ibrahimovic said he enjoyed his time in Los Angeles and created lasting memories. “I lived in Beverly Hills. I didn’t say good morning or goodbye to my neighbors for two years,” he recalled with a laugh.
Hazing Stories and Beckham Encounter
Ibrahimovic shared a humorous hazing story involving David Beckham during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain. Beckham, new to the team, was expected to sing a song as part of the initiation ritual. “He was like, ‘Zlatan, I’m not doing that. Forget about it,’” Ibrahimovic recalled.
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After several days of pressure, Beckham finally agreed. “He started to sing the English anthem,” Ibrahimovic said. “I look at him, ‘My friend, I cannot sing the English anthem.’ And everybody was looking at him and he was getting red in his face.”
The story illustrated the camaraderie and traditions in professional locker rooms, with Ibrahimovic positioning himself as the enforcer of team customs. “That’s our way of presenting,” he explained.
World Cup Broadcasting Ambitions
As he prepares for his broadcasting debut, Ibrahimovic expressed confidence in his ability to stand out. “World Cup is the biggest stage in a football career,” he said. “Such a lovely stadium. Oh my god. That’s a Zlatan stadium.”
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He promised to bring his unfiltered personality to the airwaves. “I will tell them what I think, what I feel, wrong or right, it’s my opinion. You like it or not, it’s up to you.”
His comments have already generated significant buzz ahead of the tournament, with fans and media anticipating his outspoken analysis during matches.
Legacy and Transition
Ibrahimovic’s move into broadcasting marks the next chapter for one of soccer’s most charismatic figures. Known for his larger-than-life persona, acrobatic goals and memorable one-liners, he brings a unique perspective as a former star player.
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His willingness to speak candidly about Messi and Ronaldo, hazing rituals and cultural differences in soccer adds entertainment value to the World Cup coverage. As the tournament approaches, Ibrahimovic is expected to provide colorful commentary that appeals to both hardcore fans and casual viewers.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, offers a massive platform for broadcasters. Ibrahimovic’s presence on Fox Sports is likely to attract attention from Swedish and international audiences, adding star power to the coverage.
Fan and Media Reaction
Early reactions to Ibrahimovic’s appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” have been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers praising his humor and straightforward style. Social media clips of his stories and opinions have circulated widely, building anticipation for his World Cup role.
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His comparison of Messi and Ronaldo, while subjective, reignites a perennial debate among soccer fans. The hazing anecdote involving Beckham provides insight into locker room culture and humanizes the larger-than-life personalities in the sport.
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
As the 2026 tournament draws near, Ibrahimovic’s broadcasting debut adds excitement to an already star-studded event. His insights as a former player who competed in two World Cups will offer valuable perspective on the pressures and emotions of the competition.
Whether delivering sharp analysis, humorous observations or passionate commentary, Ibrahimovic is expected to bring energy and personality to Fox’s coverage. His unique voice could help engage new audiences and enhance the viewing experience for millions around the globe.
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For now, fans are enjoying his candid appearances and looking forward to seeing how his broadcasting career unfolds during the World Cup. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s transition from pitch to booth promises to be as entertaining as his playing days, bringing the same charisma and confidence that defined his legendary career.
The soccer world will be watching closely as one of the game’s most memorable figures takes on a new challenge in front of the microphone. Ibrahimovic’s unfiltered style is likely to make the 2026 World Cup broadcast even more compelling for viewers seeking personality alongside expert analysis.
| Revenue of $7.94B (-5.22% Y/Y) misses by $134.82M
Lennar Corporation (LEN) Q2 2026 Earnings Call June 12, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
David Collins – VP & Controller Stuart Miller – Executive Chairman, CEO & President Diane Bessette – CFO & VP Jim Parker – Chief Operating Officer David Grove – Executive Vice President of Homebuilding
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Conference Call Participants
Susan Maklari – Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division Alan Ratner – Zelman & Associates LLC Michael Rehaut – JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division John Lovallo – UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Jay McCanless – Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division Buck Horne – Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
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Presentation
Operator
Welcome to Lennar’s second quarter earnings conference call. [Operator Instructions] Today’s conference is being recorded. If you have any objections, you may disconnect at this time.
I will now turn the call over to David Collins for the reading of the forward-looking statement.
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David Collins VP & Controller
Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Today’s conference call may include forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Lennar’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects. Forward-looking statements represent only Lennar’s estimates on the date of this conference call and are not intended to give any assurance as to actual future results.
Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could affect future results and may cause Lennar’s actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in our earnings release and our SEC filings, including those under the caption Risk Factors contained in Lennar’s annual report on Form 10-K most recently filed with the SEC. Please note that Lennar assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Gold fell 3.6% to $4,108.20 per troy ounce on Wednesday, its lowest settle value since November. Gold has retreated in five of the past six sessions, and is now down 23% from an all-time high of $5,318.40 hit in late January.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced another location for one of the city’s planned government-run grocery stores, this one set to open in the Bronx next year.
New York City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez and some of her colleagues are pushing a proposal to require the establishment of at least five municipal grocery stores per borough.
The proposal comes as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration aims to establish one municipal grocery store in each of the Big Apple’s five boroughs by the end of his first term.
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“Let’s make sure it’s not something that just our current mayor invests in, but something we can codify into in perpetuity,” Gutiérrez said, according to The City Reporter.
Fox News Digital reached out to Gutiérrez’s office on Friday to request a comment from the councilmember.
Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York, and Kathy Hochul, governor of New York, during a news conference on 2026 FIFA World Cup transportation at the MTA Rail Control Center in New York, on Thursday, June 4, 2026. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The proposal calls for the commissioner of small business services or the leader of a different agency designated by the mayor to create at least five grocery stores per borough “in consultation or partnership to the extent feasible with a contracted entity,” according to the measure.
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A press release pertaining to the mayor’s effort earlier this year noted, “The city-owned grocery initiative is designed to lower costs on everyday staples by using public ownership to eliminate costs that are currently passed on to consumers.”
New York City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez. (Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The initiative aims to deliver affordable, high-quality groceries that provide meaningful savings to New Yorkers and strengthen neighborhood food access citywide. Mayor Mamdani has allocated $70 million in capital funds for the development of the five sites,” the release noted.
“Under the model, the City will own the land and cover overhead costs like rent and construction. A private operator, selected through a request for proposals, will manage daily operations and be contractually required to pass savings directly to customers on a core basket of everyday staples,” the release explained.
The sun sets across midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty in New York City on April 26, 2026, as seen from Bayonne, N.J. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, took office this year after winning the New York City mayoral election last year while running as a Democrat.
Tailgators Pub & Grill founder Jim Hallers discusses the challenges streaming poses on bar owners and the impact of the World Cup and other major sporting events on the industry during ‘Varney & Co.’
The traditional American pastime of gathering at a local sports bar to watch Sunday football is being strangled by a technical and financial bottleneck, one restaurateur is warning.
“It’s why we’re speaking up, because the simple matter is that it is hard to watch all of the streaming things… Is it on YouTube TV? Is it the [NFL] Sunday Ticket? Is it Amazon?” Texas restaurateur and Tailgators Pub & Grill founder Jim Hallers said on “Varney & Co.” Friday.
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“For the last 30 years, it’s come to us through DirecTV, and it’s just worked,” he continued. “And so we like a centralized approach, but we just need technology that works, and streaming is still very immature.”
Testifying before Congress on Wednesday, Hallers explained to lawmakers that the sports media landscape’s sudden fragmentation into separate streaming apps is creating an expensive tech maze for hospitality venues, threatening the business model of – often-rural – neighborhood pubs that rely on NFL fans to keep their doors open in the fall.
“Everybody has to move to streaming. And so, literally, now, we have to buy streaming boxes. And in a typical smaller bar where I have maybe 30 or 40 TVs with a DIRECTV box mounted behind every television, I now have to get an EverPass streaming box. But you can’t put an EverPass streaming box behind every TV. It doesn’t work like that,” Hallers said on Capitol Hill. “Just imagine at home, if you tried to stream, you know, 30 Netflix’s at once, your internet’s just going to die. Well, it’s the same way for most bars and restaurants today.”
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Fans watch Super Bowl LX at Saloon in Boston on February 8, 2026. (Getty Images)
“One commercial video switch with enough inputs and outputs can cost in excess of $15,000. A full upgrade including equipment, wiring and the labor, will cost $30,000 to $40,000 per restaurant,” he also testified. “So instead of simplifying the business, the transition is adding another layer of cost and complexity.”
Wednesday’s congressional hearing stemmed from the Iowa Restaurant Association and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, which each represent thousands of independent restaurant and bar owners, sending letters to high-powered GOP lawmakers in their states urging them to act on “a significant shift in the commercial distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket that threatens to impose immediate and substantial burdens on small businesses” across their states.
‘The Big Money Show’ co-host Dagen McDowell questions why multi-billionaire sports franchises receive an antitrust exemption, arguing it disadvantages sports fans.
The concern comes after streaming service EverPass Media announced it would become the exclusive commercial option for NFL Sunday Ticket starting with the 2026 season. The Iowa letter was sent to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, while the Wisconsin edition went to Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, who chairs the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust.
eMed chief wellness officer Tom Brady and eMed CEO Linda Yaccarino discuss GLP-1 market growth and the company’s latest funding round on ‘Mornings with Maria.’
“We understand that transitioning to a streaming-based solution for NFL Sunday Ticket may require planning, from connectivity and hardware to overall venue readiness. That’s why our team is committed to helping customers make the transition with confidence and be fully prepared before kickoff. Our goal is simple: make sure your venue is ready well before the first Sunday of the season, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering a great experience for every guest who walks through the door,” EverPass’ website reads.
“We really need it to work,” Hallers pleaded on Friday. “It’s not a matter of price. We just want technology that works, and that’s what they’ve been taking away from us.”
‘This move gives Square One the space required to sustain our intended growth’
17:21, 12 Jun 2026Updated 17:26, 12 Jun 2026
Square One Law is moving into the seventh floor of 7 Park Row(Image: Carter Towler)
Growing Newcastle law firm Square One Law is moving into new offices in the heart of Leeds. The company, which has its head office in the Fleming Business Centre in Jesmond, also has an office in Leeds where it offers clients services including banking and finance, dispute resolution, employment and intellectual property.
Now the firm is set to move from its office in One Park Row to 3,000sq ft of recently refurbished Grade A office space in 7 Park Row. The business is moving into the seventh floor of the building on a five-year lease, increasing its floorspace and boosting the firm’s ability to expand further.
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James Jackson of Leeds-based property consultancy Carter Towler brokered the deal.
Square One Law commercial property partner, Matthew Thompson, said: “This move into these fantastic, newly upgraded premises puts us precisely where we want to be – at the heart of a city we love. This move gives Square One the space required to sustain our intended growth, whilst also providing employees and visiting clients with the modern workspace and pleasant surroundings they deserve.
“Thank you to Carter Towler and particularly WSB, who acted on our behalf for helping us secure our spectacular new home.”
Mr Jackson of Carter Towler said: “The arrival of Square One Law at 7 Park Row is a resounding endorsement of the comprehensive multimillion-pound refurbishment recently completed at this special building. The transformation of 7 Park Row undertaken by the landlords has been superb – creating Grade A, amenity-driven, fully fitted & CAT A office suites in the heart of Leeds’ professional core.
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“It is also encouraging to see Square One Law performing so well and continuing to grow its presence in the market. The quality of its occupiers is an important ingredient in the success of 7 Park Row.”
The work was carried out by Augur Group and Firefly Capital Real Estate, who jointly acquired 7 Park Row in June 2024.
Inside 7 Park Row in Leeds(Image: Son Of Jack Photography)
Mr Jackson added: “The magnificent refurbishment of 7 Park Row has paid immediate dividends with both this and other recently completed lettings in the building. Only the 4,656 sq ft sixth floor now remains available to lease, either on a traditional CAT A basis or fully fitted.”
Elizabeth Ridler, partner at the Leeds office of property consultancy Knight Frank, joint marketing agents of 7 Park Row, added: “Park Row famously connects the financial and retail districts of the city centre and is one of the most sought-after business addresses in Leeds.
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“We have also launched the marketing of the basement floor, which will provide around 10,000 sq ft of space suitable for a variety of uses including leisure, medical and education. The newly configured space will have a capacity for up to 200 people and will be accessed via a new, highly prominent double height entrance on Park Row.
“Park Row has also been enhanced by the pedestrianisation of City Square, the planting of trees and the widening of pavements, making it an exceptionally attractive street.”
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