Sports journalist Abigail Vélez has come under heavy criticism after making a comment widely considered insensitive about Bosnia and Herzegovina while covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While discussing the match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ABC7 reporter said she “wouldn’t be able to point out Bosnia on a map,” adding that she knew nothing about the country and that she “didn’t want to know.”
The remark quickly went viral on social media, especially after it was shared by a page dedicated to Bosnian football. “My goodness, the stereotypes write themselves…,” the Bosnian Football account wrote on X.
Many users also criticized the journalist for treating her lack of geographical knowledge as something to be proud of and for making what they considered a disrespectful comment about the United States’ opponent.
Following the backlash, Vélez posted a public apology on social media. She said she had been trying to make a joke in the spirit of sports rivalry but acknowledged that she had “gone too far” and made a comment that was “thoughtless, insensitive, and inappropriate.”
The journalist also apologized to the people of Bosnia and to the country’s national team. “The World Cup should be about bringing communities around the world together, and my comment did not reflect that spirit. Wishing all teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
The incident sparked a broader discussion about professionalism in sports journalism and respect for the countries participating in the tournament. ABC7 has not publicly commented on the matter.
My goodness, the stereotypes write themselves……🤷♂️ #FIFAWorldCup 🇧🇦🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UGj3uudcYL
— Bosnian Football (@BosniaNTBall) June 27, 2026
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Photo and video: Instagram @abc7abigail / X @BosniaNTBall. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
