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United States John Strong is an American television play-by-play broadcaster, recognized for his work as the lead voice for MLS on Fox, and Fox Sports' coverage of major international soccer tournaments including the FIFA World Cup.
Strong started calling MLS games for NBC Sports and took a part-time contract with Fox Sports to call European and Concacaf games. This was a temporary move before fully transitioning to Fox Sports.
In 2015, Strong went full time with FOX Sports as a play-by-play announcer for its coverage of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada™, MLS, FIFA World Cup™ and various international soccer matches. He became the lead play-by-play commentator for MLS broadcasts.
Strong served as the radio and television play-by-play announcer for the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer team before moving to national networks.
John Strong began his broadcasting career during high school in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he founded Laker Broadcasting in 2002 to create audio broadcasts of local football and basketball games. He continued to refine his skills while attending the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon, working at 750 KXL in Portland and KWVA, the campus radio station. During this period, Strong broadcasted University of Oregon women’s soccer, softball, and lacrosse games, and also served as the play-by-play voice for the Eugene Generals Junior Hockey team in 2005-2006. His first full-time radio position came in 2008 at Portland’s KXL radio, and later at 750 AM “The Game,” where he produced “The Bald Faced Truth” radio show and hosted “Strong at Night.”
In 2010, Strong became the play-by-play announcer for the Portland Timbers, transitioning to the regular announcer for Timbers broadcasts on FSN Northwest in 2011. He gained further experience commentating Europa League games for Fox Soccer, notably calling the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final. A significant career turning point occurred in 2013 when Strong moved to NBC Sports to cover Major League Soccer and Premier League football. Following NBC’s loss of MLS coverage in 2014, Strong moved full-time to Fox Sports in 2015, becoming the lead play-by-play announcer for its coverage of Major League Soccer, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and various international soccer events. He took on the role of lead play-by-play voice for United States men’s national soccer team matches broadcast on Fox/Fox Sports 1 starting in 2015, often partnered with Brad Friedel and later Stuart Holden.
Strong’s career highlights include calling the Fox broadcasts of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, including both finals, alongside Stuart Holden. He has also covered the Copa América in 2016, 2021, and 2024. In recognition of his contributions to sports broadcasting, Strong was named Oregon Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2013. In 2011, Major League Soccer awarded him the Broadcast Call of the Year for his commentary on Darlington Nagbe’s goal for the Portland Timbers.
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