Jozy Altidore Embraces New Role as World Cup Commentator with Telemundo

Growing up in South Florida, Jozy Altidore often heard Spanish while playing soccer with local kids and from his Dominican grandmother at home. As a teenager, he moved to Spain to play for Villarreal, located in a less touristy part of Castellón, where Spanish was the primary language spoken by his coach and teammates. Over time, Altidore learned the language. ‘Many people are surprised I speak Spanish,’ Altidore told NBC News.

His Spanish will prove useful this summer when he serves as a World Cup commentator for Telemundo, the official Spanish-language network for the games. Altidore, who lacks broadcasting experience, humbly admits his Spanish is average at best. However, with the World Cup approaching in North America, he saw an opportunity to stay engaged with the event. ‘It’s the biggest World Cup we’ve ever had,’ Altidore said. ‘For me, it was a good chance to remain involved and be part of the World Cup.’

Regarding his proficiency in Spanish, Altidore commented, ‘I can manage. I thought, What a cool challenge. It’s important to challenge yourself in everything you do.’ Additionally, Altidore looks forward to observing Telemundo’s exciting broadcasts, particularly the passion in Andrés Cantor’s ‘goal’ calls. He expressed curiosity, asking, ‘How does he do that in one breath? I can’t wait to see the legend in action.’ Telemundo and NBC News are both under NBCUniversal.

Altidore will provide analysis and insights on Team USA’s matches, not long after playing for the team himself. Recognized as one of the top American players in the past two decades, he boasts 42 goals in 115 appearances. He contributed to the U.S. teams in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, though an injury sidelined him in the latter. Some current 2026 team members, like Christian Pulisic, were once his teammates.

Altidore shared his hopeful perspective on the current squad, stating, ‘I’m optimistic. I’m bullish. I believe this team can win the World Cup. They have the talent, and I’m eager for them to receive their accolades.’ While his predictions may seem ambitious, he noted examples where host nations made significant strides, including South Korea’s semifinals berth in 2002 and Germany’s in 2006. With the tournament on home soil, he feels the U.S. squad might surpass past performances.

Altidore emphasized the role of fans, saying, ‘Can we show up in numbers to make players feel the emotion and camaraderie, pushing them to perform beyond expectations?’

His excitement is obvious, but Altidore must balance support with objective analysis as a media figure. ‘It’s about supporting these players and acknowledging their accomplishments,’ he said. ‘But it’s essential to critique performances and provide constructive criticism.’

Altidore’s soccer journey began when the U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994. His father recorded games on VHS tapes. He expects many families to do similarly this summer, though with modern technology. ‘They’ll experience soccer in a wonderful way for the first time, creating new players, fans, and enthusiasts,’ Altidore said.

Through his broadcasts on Telemundo, Altidore aims to share his passion. ‘In my opinion, it’s more than just tactics. It’s a significant opportunity to continue growing the sport for the future,’ he explained.