On Monday, all eyes were on the Copa América match between the United States and Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
They did not like what they saw.
From the opening moments of Uruguay’s 1-0 win, which eliminated the United States in the group stage, the Fox broadcast sparked a fierce reaction on social media from viewers who noted the less than professional presentation of a high-stakes international soccer match.
The problem? The camera angle was wrong. Far from wrong.
Instead of a standard lower angle that would allow viewers to actually identify the players on the field, this match looked like it was being broadcast from a drone or an airship high above the playing field. The reaction was so intense that Fox play-by-play announcer Stu Holden was talking about it minutes into the match. He blamed it on the CONMEBOL world feed that feeds video into the Fox broadcast.
Here’s a look back at the broadcast, along with Holden’s commentary:
“This is not a stadium for ants,” Holden joked. “This is a really high camera angle for the CONMEBOL world feed. … For the tactics junkies, I’m sure this will be great.”
For comparison, here’s a screenshot from the broadcast of Monday’s other Copa América match between Bolivia and Panama from Orlando. This is what a soccer broadcast is supposed to look like:
There were many jokes going around on social media. Some claimed that the camera was shooting from a lunar perspective:
Fox’s overhead camera angle for US-Uruguay appears to be on the moon.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 2, 2024
Or on drugs:
THIS CAMERA ANGLE IS ON DRUGS
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 2, 2024
Or from an airship:
Why are they using an airship as the main camera for the US-Uruguay flight?
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) July 2, 2024
The Goodyear Blimp joined the conversation and confirmed that it was indeed not providing the much-criticized feed:
I don’t know whether we should feel flattered or offended, but I want to answer you all at once: No, we are not going to the US national team game tonight.
— Goodyear Blimp (@GoodyearBlimp) July 2, 2024
The jokes kept coming, with references to video games, “Zoolander” and All-22 feeds used by football coaches and analysts to track every player on the field simultaneously:
This is an incredible camera angle from Football Manager
—Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) July 2, 2024
looks like FOX is airing this game from where the Chiefs film their all-22 lol https://t.co/VkYnCpXmvh
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) July 2, 2024
What’s up with Fox’s camera angle in his video game?
— Joe Lago (@joelago) July 2, 2024
Sorry, football fans. This camera angle is for touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce, not #USMNT and Uruguay.
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) July 2, 2024
Is the camera of the US soccer match against Uruguay on the space station?
—Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) July 2, 2024
The camera angle for this USA vs. Arrowhead game is from Jordan Love’s mother’s seat
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) July 2, 2024
Biggest American game of the cycle and we’re watching from a drone hovering just outside Uranus’ second Ring. If you love this team and suffer from Vertigo, you’re in for a long, long night
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 2, 2024
I may have successfully convinced my wife to buy a new giant TV. Thanks #USMNT!
—Brett Bensley (@brettbensley) July 2, 2024
In the 39th minute, Fox had had enough. The broadcast abruptly switched to a more traditional angle at the 38:31 mark, with the score tied at 0-0.
Social media approved:
NEW CAMERA ANGLE. I REPEAT. NEW CAMERA ANGLE.
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 2, 2024
Did Twitter tease CONMEBOL to find a new camera angle just 40 minutes into the match? Interesting
— Johannes Schneider (@jocoolwu) July 2, 2024
