For generations of American soccer fans, the FIFA World Cup sounded like JP Dellacamera.

After announcing that the 2026 tournament would be his last, the legendary broadcaster closed the book on one of the longest World Cup careers in American sports media.

The numbers alone tell the story. Dellacamera called 18 FIFA World Cups over a span of four decades: 11 men’s tournaments and seven women’s tournaments. His first came at Mexico 1986, while his final World Cup was the 2026 edition co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

When did JP Dellacamera start calling World Cups?

Dellacamera made his World Cup debut at the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Over the next 40 years, he became one of the most recognizable voices in American soccer, covering the sport through multiple eras as the game’s popularity continued to grow in the United States.

His career stretched from the days when soccer occupied only a small corner of the American sports landscape to an era in which the World Cup regularly attracts millions of viewers across the country.

What was JP Dellacamera’s most famous World Cup call?

While Dellacamera covered countless memorable matches, he is perhaps best known for his commentary during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, when the United States defeated China in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl.

That victory, sealed by Brandi Chastain’s iconic winning penalty, remains one of the defining moments in U.S. soccer history and is closely linked with Dellacamera’s voice.

Which networks has JP Dellacamera worked for?

Dellacamera’s broadcasting career has taken him across several of America’s biggest sports networks. He has called soccer for ESPN, ABC Sports, FOX Sports, NBC Sports and Turner Sports, while also covering Major League Soccer, U.S. national team matches, the UEFA Champions League, the Olympics and many other major competitions.

His longevity made him one of the most familiar voices in American soccer long before the sport reached its current popularity.

Now, after 18 World Cups and 40 years behind the microphone, Dellacamera is stepping away from the Beautful Game’s biggest stage, leaving behind a broadcasting legacy that few American commentators can match.

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