Alexi Lalas clocked up nearly a century of appearances for the US national team during the 1990s. But football fans nowadays will be more accustomed to seeing him on FOX providing analysis on the current crop of American stars. In fact, Lalas’ coverage of the 2026 World Cup is the ninth time he has done so for the American broadcasting giants.

Perhaps it is that sporting legacy that has helped him to build a similar longevity as an analyst since retiring from football in 1999, and then again in 2004, after a short-lived return to the sport with LA Galaxy.

Some fans might also point to his memorable personality and appearance whilst starring for the US national team in the 1990s. Lalas’ appearance is far more conservative these days, but during the height of his playing career he was unmissable with his fiery, unkempt beard and hair.

And Lalas was not just individualistic in his image, but his direction too. The two-time Olympian blazed a trail, becoming the first US footballer to play in Serie A. Lalas lined up for Padova from 1994 to 1996, even managing to get on the scoresheet against both Inter Milan and AC Milan.

This period coincided with the 1994 World Cup, where the United States produced one of its greatest teams. Lalas featured alongside American greats such as Cobi Jones, Brad Friedel, and Claudio Reyna. And whilst many of those stars have slipped quietly into retirement, Lalas continues to seek the spotlight in new and unexpected ways.

Professional sport and celebrity are in some ways interchangeable, but Alexi Lalas’ enduring side gig as a musician continues to shock those who discover the creative side of his persona.

Alexi Lalas’ Musical Career

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Lalas’ musical ambitions have always existed alongside his professional football career. He is a prolific artist, having released eight solo albums, beginning with 1996’s Far from Close and his recent release Denim. The American football star cut his teeth on garage rock as a teenager, influenced by the likes of Van Halen and Def Leppard, as well as the advent of MTV in the 1980s.

But his enduring love for music was instilled in him at an early age by his music teachers and his mother. They provided the fundamentals of music and are lessons that he still carries with him today. Speaking to the Let Music Fill My World initiative, Lalas stated, “When I think back about people who made a difference in my life, first person I think about is Mrs Van Heusen.

“My mom sent me down the two blocks every Tuesday night to Mrs Van Heusen for piano lessons. And she was a wonderful, kind old lady. Also, incredibly patient to deal with me,” recounted Lalas.

“And she really introduced me to the building blocks of music. Whether it was scales and chords, and progressions and patterns, and really the arithmetic that a lot of music has, especially when it comes to popular music.”

Alexi Lalas Discography

Alexi Lalas in ‘The Masked Singer’

The former LA Galaxy star also made headlines in March 2026 for his musical endeavours with an impressive run on The Masked Singer. Lalas made it all the way to Week 9 of the fourteenth season of the popular American television series, just falling short of the semi-final stage.

The FOX analyst outlasted the likes of Billy Ray Cyrus, Tiffany Haddish, and MLB star David Ortiz, with Ashlee Simpson eventually taking the crown.

Before being forced to reveal his identity, Lalas hinted to the judges that his costume held clues as to who was hidden beneath the mask. Ironically, the judges incorrectly guessed at a number of sports stars, including Tom Brady and Travis Kelce, before Lalas finally put them out of their misery.

But his elimination wasn’t all negative — he did receive a number of kind comments about his performances. Lalas’ character was called High Voltage, whose concept was a robot with plugs for hands. The clue that pointed to his true identity was the robot’s head, which was designed to resemble a football. Sadly, that detail was lost on the judges.

Alexi Lalas’ Band, The Gypsies

The impact of MTV and the heavy metal movement of the time inspired Lalas to play in a band, The Gypsies, during the height of his football career in the 1990s. Alongside his band members, he self-produced and self-distributed one album, Woodland, during the 1994 World Cup.

And at the height of Lalas’ popularity following an inclusion in the 1998 MLS All-Star team, The Gypsies achieved a level of success, opening for the popular American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish during a European tour in 1998. The band was formed during Lalas’ college years at Rutgers University.

Speaking about their opening slot for Hootie & the Blowfish to Beats & Rhymes, Lalas recalled the period fondly. “We had a blast on the Hootie tour, the guys treated us great, and it was a challenge each night to go out and win over a crowd that wasn’t really there to see you.

“Music was never a hobby for me – I took it as seriously as my soccer. While my success in soccer gave me opportunities in music, I knew that I would have to prove that it wasn’t a vanity endeavour or whim.

“The reality is that the public is rightfully sceptical about athletes doing music, but I never let that stop me.”

Tottenham are more active than any other club in the transfer market at the moment, and they are now pushing to land a 37-year-old in a surprise move.

It’s been a busy summer transfer window for the North London club already, with Jan-Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson all signing on the dotted line.

They certainly won’t be the only players making their way to Tottenham this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side working on a number of deals.

Tottenham need reinforcements after a disappointing couple of seasons, which have seen them finish 17th in the Premier League twice in a row.

Spurs fans may have been expecting this summer to be difficult in terms of incomings due to the lack of European football, but it hasn’t hampered them so far.

Tottenham Eyeing 37-Year-Old Star

via Reuters

According to insider Paul O’Keefe, Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is a leading contender to join Tottenham in the summer transfer window as they look to bring in a backup goalkeeper.

Dubravka recently suffered relegation with Burnley, meaning he’s set to play Championship football unless he makes a move this summer.

Tottenham are looking to bring in a new number two, with Guglielmo Vicario heavily linked with a departure.

Antonin Kinsky could be their number one option, with Dubravka brought in as the back-up goalkeeper.

Tonali Appears to be Tottenham’s Priority

via Reuters

Tottenham’s priority for the summer transfer window at the moment does appear to be Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Fabrizio Romano has recently reported that Spurs remain in talks with the Magpies over an attempt to secure his signature, despite seeing a £75m bid rejected.

The Magpies are looking for a total package in the region of £100 million, which could be £85 million with £15 million in add-ons.

Tottenham appear insistent on getting their man after submitting an opening offer, while Newcastle are playing hardball with their valuation.

He appears to be Tottenham’s priority at the moment, but they are certainly working on other deals in tandem.

Every now and then, a fan trend from the World Cup or European Championship goes viral, spreading further than the stadiums it started in, and Norway’s “Viking Row” is one of the best recent examples.

It’s the sort of celebration that sums up exactly why major tournaments tend to produce these moments in the first place; simple enough for anyone to join in with, yet tied closely enough to a country’s identity that it ends up meaning far more than the average football song.

Performed by the country’s supporters, it made its way onto escalators, into city squares, and even inside Norway’s own parliament during the 2026 World Cup, turning a routine match day tradition into a repetitively viral moment.

What is the ‘Viking Row’ in Soccer?

The Viking Row is a synchronised chant and movement performed by groups of fans, designed to mimic the action of rowing a longship.

It starts with supporters sitting down together, before building into a rhythmic chant of the word “ro,” which simply translates to “row.”

As the chant builds, fans begin moving their arms back and forth in unison, exactly as if they were pulling on oars.

The motion gradually speeds up, before the whole group rises together at the climax, arms thrown up, roaring in celebration. It can take fans a little while to get fully in sync, but once it clicks, it’s an incredible sight.

It’s not limited to the stands either. Fans have been known to take the routine outside the stadium, performing it on moving escalators, in train stations, and on city streets.

Origin of the ‘Viking Row’ Trend

The tradition is taken from Norway’s seafaring history, with the rowing motion inspired by the longships that once carried Viking warriors and explorers across the seas centuries ago. It ties their support of the national side directly back to a piece of national heritage Norwegians have long taken pride in.

It’s also not the first time a national fanbase has turned a slice of cultural history into a football chant. Iceland did something similar with their famous “Viking Clap” at Euro 2016. A slow, building clap performed above the head became a viral sensation. Dutch fans also have an equally viral trend. Their simple dance, from left to right to the song Snollebollekes, have seen crowds of more than 25,000 participate in the street. The Viking Row follows a similar idea, giving supporters something simple and easy to join in with.

Reaction to the ‘Viking Row’ at World Cup 2026

The trend went well beyond football stadiums and areas close by. Norwegian politicians even paused proceedings to perform the row inside parliament itself, with the chamber’s speaker setting the rhythm before everyone pulled on their imaginary oars. Clips of the moment spread quickly online, with people amused to see politicians briefly swap debate for a bit of choreography.

Beyond the politicians and the impromptu street performances, the reaction online was just as telling. Clips of the celebration racked up millions of views across social media, with supporters of other countries admitting they wished their own fanbase had something similar. Pundits and former players also weighed in during broadcasts, often praising the tradition as one of the more original pieces of fan culture, rather than just another viral clip that fades within days.

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