The United States Men’s National Team may have lost the 2025 Gold Cup Final to Mexico, but much of the outrage following the defeat was not directed at the players or the coach.
Instead, it was Alexi Lalas, former USMNT defender and current Fox Sports broadcaster, who found himself at the center of controversy.
His decision to arrive at Houston’s NRG Stadium on horseback, donning a cowboy hat, sparked a storm of criticism across social media and left many fans scratching their heads.
The USMNT’s 2-1 loss to longtime rivals Mexico in the final was a tough pill to swallow, especially after a promising tournament under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager had made an impressive start to his tenure, leading a depleted American side to the final despite missing key stars such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah due to injuries.
With an unbeaten run through the group stages and knockout rounds, including wins over Costa Rica and Guatemala, the team had rekindled belief among fans.
But in the final, after an early goal by Chris Richards gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead, they lost their grip.
Raul Jimenez equalized for Mexico before Edson Alvarez scored the winner late in the second half, handing El Tri their 10th Gold Cup title and second consecutive triumph.
However, despite the result and the disappointment that followed with it, at the center of criticism was not a particular USMNT player, but rather a former legend. Alexi Lalas.
Lalas, who was part of the Fox Sports coverage team for the final, made a theatrical entrance that felt straight out of a spaghetti western, riding a horse and wearing a cowboy hat as he approached the stadium.
ALEXI LALAS HAS ARRIVED ON A HORSE IN HOUSTON 🐎🇺🇸@AlexiLalas pic.twitter.com/ZWrfXAsYMM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2025
Intended perhaps as a light-hearted or patriotic stunt, the gesture backfired dramatically. Reacting to his look, fans took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing their opinions. One user wrote:
“This is why we lost, btw,” whilst sharing Lalas’ getup.
“Of all the douche bags in all the douche bag villages, Alexi Lalas continues to out-douche them all 🤠🚮,” wrote another fan.
“Look at this loser, man,” a third fan commented.
Comparisons were also drawn to former WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), with one fan quipping, “Alexi Lalas dressed like JBL tonight“
“American soccer viewership would immediately go up if they stopped doing this clown s*** with that MAGA moron @AlexiLalas,” wrote another fan.
Ever a polarizing presence in the sporting world, Alexi Lalas’ footballing career saw him become the first American to compete in the Serie A, when he joined Calcio Padova in 1994.
He would go on to represent the United States in the FIFA World Cup before winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the MLS Cup in his career. He subsequently transitioned to managerial duties within the MLS.
After his managerial stints with a plethora of Major League Soccer teams came to an end, Lalas began his career as a commentator, initially working with ESPN. He currently serves as a pundit and a broadcaster for Fox Sports, where he also had the opportunity to cover the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
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