Zlatan Ibrahimović admitted to feeling extreme nervousness during a helicopter trip to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. The former professional footballer was part of the Fox broadcast crew making their way to the event on Sunday.
Ibrahimović, along with hosts Rebecca Lowe and fellow analysts Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas, traveled by helicopter from Manhattan to New Jersey. During the flight, when asked by Lowe how he was doing, Ibrahimović responded with a laugh, "S–ting in my pants but OK. I don’t like helicopters. But it’s OK. I have Rebecca close to me. I have Thierry. I have Alexi. If we go down, we go down together. Let’s go."
The Fox crew’s journey to the stadium was a multi-modal effort. They began their broadcast pregame show at a desk set up under the Brooklyn Bridge. From there, they took a ferry across the East River before boarding the helicopter.
During the ferry portion of the trip, Ibrahimović showed his focus on the upcoming match by kicking a soccer ball into the water and stating, "This is what we think. The game is about to start and we are ready."
Upon arriving in New Jersey and boarding a car with a police escort to the stadium, Ibrahimović's demeanor shifted. He commented on the chaotic but exciting nature of the final leg of their journey, likening it to the video game Grand Theft Auto.
The broadcast team successfully reached MetLife Stadium in time for the final, as fans navigated significant queues ahead of the match.