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Fox Sports is bolstering it’s soccer coverage, adding Kate Abdo to the full-time roster. Abdo has previously been with Fox Sports as part of their Women’s World Cup coverage, but will now take on a greater role as studio host. At 35, Abdo has worked for various news outlets in her career including CNN, but she comes directly from Sky Sports.
Here’s what you need to know about the new hire:
1. She Speaks Four Languages
Abdo’s lingual skills make her a valuable asset for talking soccer. She speaks fluent Spanish, French and German in addition to her native English. This ability allows her to talk to various global soccer talent without needing a translator.
Those skills have come in handy at the Ballon D’Or ceremony, where Abdo has hosted since 2004. Adbo is able to command the stage with the world’s greatest footballers, and interview them in their most comfortable language without additional assistance.
2. Abdo Hosted World Cup Tonight in 2015
If Abdo looks familiar to US Soccer fans, it’s because she was the main studio hosts for Fox’s comprehensive 2015 Women’s World Cup coverage. Abdo spent several weeks in Vancouver covering the tournament, which was won by USA in a 5-2 blowout win over Japan.
World Cup Tonight, the on-location studio show hosted by Abdo, won two Sports Emmys for their coverage. It was Fox’s first coverage of the Women’s World Cup, but they took home awards for Outstanding Technical Team Studio and Outstanding Production Design/Art Direction.
3. Abdo Started Her TV Career in Germany
When you find a video of your first ever casting and wonder why at 23 you wore that middle-aged tangerine blazer.
Abdo studied European languages at Salford University, and interned in other countries. It was while interning at a German TV station that she got her big break, when she was asked to fill in as a presenter. She was then hired by DW-TV in Germany as a journalist, starting her professional career.
By 2009 she was at CNN, covering soccer and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. She then went back to Germany, working for Sky Deutschland as their lead anchor. Adbo got global attention after hosting her first Balloon D’Or in 2014, and announced a move to Sky Sports just a few days later.
4. Abdo’s Favorite Soccer League is Fox’s Competition
Abdo is a Premier League fan, which is broadcast exclusively on NBC Sports. They’ve already got their lead anchor in Rebecca Lowe, who signed a six-year extension early last year. Abdo is a Manchester United supporter like her father and brother, but her mother is a die-hard Liverpool supporter.
There won’t be any Premier League, but Adbo will still cover plenty of English football. Fox Sports has rights to the FA Cup, League Cup, and she’ll see the remaining Premier League teams compete in UEFA Champions and Europa League.
5. Abdo Started Her Career as Kate Giles
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Abdo doesn’t reveal much about her personal life, and is dedicated to her craft. But it is known that she started her career as Kate Giles, and FabWags.com reports that Abdo’s husband is German businessman Ramtin Abdo.
But that’s where Ramtin ends. Regardless of his status, Abdo tweeted a picture of her and Sky Sports boxing analyst Matthew Macklin looking happy underneath the Eiffel Tower on Christmas Eve. Abdo also liked this photo of the couple at Barclay’s Center in January.
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