Ibrahimovic admits helicopter fear on live World Cup final broadcast

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has long cultivated an image of unshakeable self-belief, but the former Sweden striker conceded on live television that flying by helicopter is where he draws the line. Working as a pundit for FOX Sports at the 2026 World Cup, the 44-year-old was travelling by air to MetLife Stadium for the final between Spain and Argentina when the subject came up.

Ibrahimovic has been one of the more memorable voices on the broadcaster's coverage this summer, known for blunt assessments of the football he has watched and for joking exchanges with fellow analyst Alexi Lalas. His on-air persona is closely modelled on the confidence he showed across more than two decades as a player.

What happened

During the pre-game broadcast from the helicopter, host Rebecca Lowe asked Ibrahimovic how he was feeling about being in the air. Dressed in a cream suit for the occasion, he said the adrenaline was pumping, used an expletive to describe his nerves and wiped sweat from his forehead. He added that he does not enjoy helicopters but was steadied by the company of Lowe, Thierry Henry and Lalas, remarking that if the aircraft went down, they would go down together. The remark was delivered with a smile and treated by the panel as light relief before kick-off.

• Ibrahimovic, 44, is part of FOX Sports' punditry team for the 2026 World Cup
• He appears alongside host Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas
• The panel travelled by helicopter to MetLife Stadium for the final
• Spain and Argentina contest the World Cup final
• Ibrahimovic said he dislikes helicopters but felt calmer with his colleagues alongside him

Panel talk and wider context

Lowe has also addressed suggestions of friction between Ibrahimovic and Lalas. In an interview with talkSPORT earlier in the month, she said there was no tension between the pair, describing their on-screen back-and-forth as banter that the group enjoys and that viewers misread when short clips circulate without context. She said the suggestion of a rift simply does not match what happens in the studio.

The veteran broadcaster added that working with the trio has been the most unpredictable panel of her 25-year career, comparing the job at times to herding cattle while praising all three for how well they perform together. With the tournament now closing at MetLife Stadium, the final between Spain and Argentina marks the end of a long summer of coverage for Lowe and her colleagues.