During the crucial Copa America game between the United States and Uruguay, FOX Sports faced criticism from viewers for the camera angle used in the broadcast. The game, held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, was important for the USMNT’s chances in the tournament and drew a wide audience. However, viewers were displeased with the camera angle, prompting FOX Sports commentators John Strong and Stuart Holden to explain that the feed came from the world feed controlled by tournament organizers CONMEBOL, not FOX Sports.
Holden humorously remarked on the high camera angle, saying, “This is not a stadium for ants.” Behind the scenes, FOX Sports producers quickly recognized the issue and worked to rectify it with officials from HBS and Copa. The camera angle was adjusted to a more traditional view midway through the first half, easing the viewers’ frustrations.
Previous games, such as Inter Miami’s match in Major League Soccer, had not been broadcast with the same camera angle. Despite the efforts to fix the situation, the USMNT ended up losing the game and did not advance to the tournament’s quarterfinals. CONMEBOL has been asked for a response regarding the camera angle issue.
In the end, the USMNT’s hopes of progressing in the tournament were dashed, but the incident shed light on the complexities of broadcasting and the challenges that arise when dealing with world feed broadcasts controlled by tournament organizers.