‘Real Reason’ Behind Ibrahimovic and Lalas’ World Cup ‘Hatred’

Having also produced news content for HITC Sport and Read Liverpool, he has created a wide range of content for GMS, including news, opinion, features, lists and viral sport content.

His passion for sports extends further than football, as he has covered several sports for GMS, including Boxing, Tennis, and Wrestling. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexi Lalas' interactions have been a highlight of the 2026 World Cup, but not necessarily for the reasons many would've expected.

The pair's time on FOX Sports' coverage of the major sporting event has led to several viral clips already, with Thierry Henry often looking shocked at what his co-hosts say to each other. But it's not simply a tension-filled relationship for the cameras, according to an inside source.

It has been claimed there is a real 'hatred' between the two, who are known to be outspoken and egotistical. They both got the better of one another at different moments, leading to huge entertainment for fans watching on.

Lalas landed the first viral clip of the World Cup as he labelled British comedian and TV personality James Corden a 'full kit w*****', leaving Ibrahimovic and Henry shocked.

Then the big Swede strongly disagreed with his colleague's claim that he'd take Erling Haaland over him. Tensions appear to have been building over the first weeks of the tournament, and Ibrahimovic gave a rather snappy response to Lalas agreeing with a claim that France showed 'arrogance' in a game.

Thierry Henry is left in stitches as Alexi Lalas gets revenge on fellow pundit Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the 2026 World Cup

"It's not arrogance, it's confidence. Ignorant people will say it's arrogance, intelligent people will say it's confidence," he said. The former AC Milan and Barcelona star was then delighted when Lalas missed a show, excitedly putting across the message: "America, you're welcome."

A source has now told the Daily Mail that things aren't much different when the cameras stop rolling. It has been claimed Ibrahimovic and Lalas 'definitely don't click'. Conversation off-camera is kept to a minimum and the pair don't seem to get along. The source said:

"When they're together off camera or during commercial breaks, conversation is usually limited to a little small talk, if that. More often than not, they're buried in their notes or glued to their phones, scrolling through messages instead of interacting with one another.

"Zlatan and Alexi definitely don't click. Zlatan gets under Alexi's skin, and Alexi isn't exactly a fan of his, but he'll keep things professional and do what needs to be done."

That dynamic has now been continued on screen, as the insider continued: "They'll all get through it, but the tension isn't going anywhere anytime soon. At the same time, everyone has started to lean into the friction because, whether they like it or not, it makes for pretty entertaining TV."

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It's said to be an 'awkward and uncomfortable' environment. Ibrahimovic appears to be the driving force behind that, with his desire to always be right being mentioned.

The source continued: "Imagine being stuck in a room with your ex and the person they left you for. That's pretty much the vibe whenever they're all together. There's an underlying tension that everyone can feel, making things awkward and uncomfortable no matter how hard they try to keep it professional.

"Zlatan is the oil in the water of it all, where everyone else is trying to get through it.

"But it seems Zlatan has a vendetta to have it be known that he is right when he makes his points and that he is the best in the room. It goes further than competition for him and he doesn't really care if the rest doesn't like him or not for it."