Two soccer legends get emotional watching Alexi Lalas react to the national anthem

FOX Sports’ Alexi Lalas was so visibly moved by America’s national anthem that it made his coworkers emotional.

The United States is currently celebrating its 250th anniversary while also preparing to host the World Cup, so there is an increased sense of patriotism in the country right now. On Friday, the U.S. Men’s National Team kicked off the group stages by beating Paraguay 4-1, but that was just half the story. In a moment posted to X the day after, French soccer star Thierry Henry revealed Lalas “cried” during the national anthem, and how moved he was by the passion.

Watch:

One moment during the @USMNT‘s opener yesterday made both Thierry Henry and @Ibra_official emotional pic.twitter.com/BNH8naWQnP

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026

“I want to talk about something that moved me. The national anthem was outstanding, the fans were outstanding. The team, although I’m not American, but I could relate, all the team play,” he said.

“The one thing really as good as the performance as the team, the way it moved me, was this man over there,” he continued, pointing at Lalas, asking for permission to share the private moment with the audience.

“How you cried, and how you were passionate about singing the National Anthem… then I realized how important it was for you guys and how important it is for you. So that was actually outstanding, I will always remember that,” Henry noted.

“You made me emotional,” agreed ex-Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović. “That doesn’t happen every day.”

While the United States isn’t known for its love of soccer like some other countries around the world, the moment proved that patriotism and good sportsmanship are universal languages deeply understood by all.

X users reacted to the clip:

Thank you Alexi for your patriotism and for not being afraid to show it. May God help us to get back to something so obvious and simple as loving our country which has given us so much. Thank God for American patriots who gave their lives to protect our freedoms & our prosperity.

— Randal Pollard (@randal_pollard) June 15, 2026

I know people think Lalas is a blowhard and they don’t like his politics, but I think you have to respect what this means to him. How can you not? Henry is a guy that gives his flowers and is sincere… we saw that with Meeks. But they didn’t have to do that for Lalas and they did

— John Malone (@JohnMaloneHS) June 13, 2026

I’m Colombian and I get emotional when they play the USA national anthem.

— Andres (@aguotas10) June 13, 2026

Happens to me every time I am at any event that Our American National Anthem is played. Just happens, I and so many others are proud Americans. God Bless America, land of the free and home of the brave!

— RosieB57 (@rosiebloom57) June 15, 2026

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