Ibrahimović, Speed World Cup Viral
Zlatan Ibrahimović Removes IShowSpeed's Mic After World Cup 2026 Prediction on Fox Panel
Key Points
In the viral exchange on the Fox studio panel, Ibrahimović directly asked Speed, “Who do you think is winning the World Cup?” and after Speed answered “Portugal-Ronald are winning,” Ibrahimović took the mic from Speed and pulled him away from the session.
The coverage notes that Speed’s Portugal prediction came even though Portugal were set for Group K fixtures—playing DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia—with their first match listed as June 17 in Houston against DR Congo.
During Speed’s USA vs. Paraguay livestream at SoFi Stadium, the match finished USA 4–1 Paraguay: an own goal by Damian Bobadilla opened the scoring, Folarin Balogun scored twice, and Gio Reyna added a late goal.
The articles add specific FIFA-linked fan/label milestones tied to Speed: his single “World Cup (Champions)” (released June 1) was included on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album (18 tracks) released June 5 via FIFA Sound and Universal Music; FIFA President Gianni Infantino also awarded him the tournament’s first official Fan ID.
Zlatan Ibrahimović grabbed the microphone right out of IShowSpeed's hand and pushed him off the Fox Sports set during live 2026 World Cup coverage on June 13 — all because Speed predicted Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo would win the tournament. The moment went viral instantly, racking up 15 million views on X and TikTok within 90 minutes, according to Primetimer.
Speed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., was a guest on the studio panel at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. He sat alongside Ibrahimović and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. When Ibrahimović asked him who would win the World Cup, Speed said, "Portugal-Ronaldo are winning, it's already written." Ibrahimović took the mic and told him, "Okay, you're done. No more mic for you," according to AOL and Kansas City.
Zlatan's Mic Snatch Sends the Internet Into Overdrive
Ibrahimović has long had a complicated relationship with Ronaldo's legacy. When Speed name-dropped CR7 as the World Cup winner live on air, the former Sweden striker did not hesitate. He physically took the mic, gestured toward the exit, and guided Speed off camera. Henry, sitting nearby, looked visibly stunned — and his expression quickly became its own meme, Primetimer reported.
Speed later laughed it off on his personal stream. "Zlatan is a legend, but he can't handle the CR7 energy," he said. Ibrahimović followed up with a separate jab at Speed's outfit — a custom bejeweled USA/Portugal hybrid jersey — calling it "a fashion disaster even for LA," according to Marca.
USA Thrashes Paraguay 4–1 as the Backdrop for the Chaos
The studio drama played out after a dominant US performance. The USMNT beat Paraguay 4–1 in the Group Stage match at SoFi Stadium. Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla scored an own goal in the 12th minute to open the scoring. Folarin Balogun then added two goals, in the 34th and 61st minutes. Gio Reyna sealed it with a late strike in the 88th minute, according to Athlon Sports.
Speed had been live-streaming the match to his massive online audience. His Portugal prediction came with a hint of irony — Portugal do not play until June 17 in Houston, when they face DR Congo in Group K. Their group also includes Uzbekistan and Colombia, according to Kansas City.
Speed Is a FIFA-Backed Ambassador, Not Just a Random Fan
Speed's presence on the Fox Sports set was no accident. FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded Speed the tournament's first official Fan ID in a televised ceremony on June 8. Infantino praised Speed for "bringing a new generation of energy to the beautiful game." Speed is also one of the faces of FIFA's push to blend football with creator culture, according to AOL.
Speed released a single called "World Cup (Champions)" on June 1. It landed on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album — an 18-track project put out on June 5 through FIFA Sound and Universal Music Group. After the Zlatan clip went viral, the song jumped 40 places on the Global Spotify Viral 50 chart within three hours, according to Marca.
Was It a Prank, a Power Move, or a Marketing Masterstroke?
Opinions split fast. Some fans called Ibrahimović "insecure" and "old-fashioned" for silencing an influencer mid-prediction. Others praised him for what they saw as "restoring order" to a broadcast that had leaned heavily into creator culture. Primetimer noted one popular reaction online: "He couldn't let that script leak early" — a joke suggesting the whole World Cup outcome was pre-arranged.
Industry observers suggested the exchange may have been encouraged by producers to create viral "clipable" moments. Fox Sports saw a 22% spike among 18–24 year-old viewers during the USA vs. Paraguay post-match window. Speed's YouTube channel also gained an estimated 150,000 subscribers in the 24 hours after the incident, according to Athlon Sports.
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