2025 Eric Allen Outstanding Young Alum
John Strong is the lead soccer play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports, bringing his voice and energy to many of the sport’s most-watched events, including the FIFA World Cup™, FIFA Women’s World Cup™, Major League Soccer (MLS), Concacaf Gold Cup, CONMEBOL Copa América™, UEFA EURO™ and more. Since 2014, Strong has paired with analyst Stu Holden to form the most prolific English-language soccer commentary team on U.S. television on FOX, reaching their 400th match called together at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Final in July 2025.
Strong joined FOX Soccer Channel in 2012 while also working for NBC Sports and calling Portland Timbers games. By 2015, he was working full time for FOX Sports, covering international tournaments and becoming a fixture across the network’s premiere soccer portfolio. His assignments have included men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, UEFA Champions League and Europa League Finals, U.S. Soccer friendlies, and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Masters Agility Championship.
Before joining FOX, Strong served as lead play-by-play announcer for MLS on NBC Sports and was the television and radio voice of the Portland Timbers, where his call of Darlington Nagbe’s goal in 2011 earned MLS “Broadcast Call of the Year” honors. That same year, his work was recognized when he was named Oregon Sportscaster of the Year.
A Portland native, Strong began broadcasting in high school, founding Laker Broadcasting to cover his school’s sports. At the University of Oregon, he majored in journalism at the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) and honed his craft at the campus radio station KWVA, where he called UO women’s soccer, softball and lacrosse games.
Whether on the world stage or in his hometown, Strong’s voice continues to shape the story of soccer for fans across the globe.
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