ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez apologized on Saturday after saying on air that she could not point out Bosnia on a map during World Cup coverage involving Dzeko. Her comment drew backlash from Bosnia fans and the Bosnian Football account on X, turning a live segment into a public dispute over tone.
Velez said she made a “poor effort to have a little fun with the World Cup competition,” but she also said she took it too far and made “a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate.” She apologized to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian Football team.
Velez’s on-air remark
On Thursday, Velez covered the USA’s 3-2 loss to Turkey and said the next round would send Team USA against Bosnia next Wednesday. During that segment, she said, “I could not point out where it is on a map.” She also said, “I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia and I don’t want to know because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever.”
She added, “That’s next Wednesday. Get prepared, Bosnia, because you don’t want it, you don’t want it like that, but you’re gonna get it. That’s next Wednesday,” making the remark part prediction and part taunt. The comment landed in the middle of World Cup coverage, where a broadcaster’s words travel fast and stay attached to the match almost immediately.
Backlash on X
Bosnia fans reacted quickly, and Bosnian Football posted on X: “My goodness, the stereotypes write themselves……” Nima Tavalley Roodsari wrote, “‘I can’t even find Bosnia on a map’ isn’t the mic drop moment you think it is,” while Mark Slapinski posted, “The only thing Americans can find on a map is the closest McDonalds.”
That reaction widened the story beyond one on-air line. The issue was not the rivalry itself but the way Velez framed it, mixing a World Cup preview with a joke about Bosnia’s place on a map.
Saturday apology
In her Saturday statement, Velez said, “The World Cup is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world, and my comment didn’t reflect that spirit.” She closed by saying, “Wishing all the teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
For Bosnia supporters, the immediate takeaway is simple: the apology is public, but the comment is already part of the build-up around Team USA’s next match. The question left hanging is whether anyone beyond the apology faces any further consequence, and that part has not been answered.
