BBC risk being embarrassed by ITV at 2026 World Cup with announcement imminent | Football | Sport
The BBC could be embarrassed by ITV when it comes to their coverage of the World Cup in the summer. Both broadcasters will show a number of live matches, including every England game, over the course of the tournament. It is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico and will begin in mid-June, running for over a month until the final in July.
It will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, an increase from the traditional 32, as part of an expansion by FIFA. As a result, there will be a total of 104 matches, up from 64 games in Qatar four years ago. The high number of matches has meant that broadcasters are facing significantly increased costs to cover the tournament.
In a bid to keep expenses to a minimum, the BBC have decided not to travel to the United States and instead provide their coverage from a studio in Salford, according to The Times.
However, this decision could see them upstaged by ITV, who are planning to fly their presenters and pundits to New York with their studio overlooking iconic landmarks such as Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Island.
The report states that ITV bosses strongly believe they should have a presence in the United States to provide viewers with a true flavour of the tournament.
The BBC, meanwhile, are planning to stay in Salford until at least the quarter-finals. Whether or not they decide to go across the Atlantic for the latter stages of the tournament may depend on the progress of England and Scotland.
Some of the BBC’s group matches will reportedly have commentary done from a studio in England, rather than sending commentators out to World Cup stadiums.
Several other international broadcasters are said to be taking similar steps to cut costs, meaning the BBC are not alone in their stance.
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will present the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup, with the full line-up of pundits yet to be announced.
ITV’s coverage will be fronted by Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods, while the likes of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright are set to provide expert analysis. An announcement is expected imminently to confirm the cast.
England’s opening game against Croatia will be shown live on ITV, as well as their final group stage match against Panama.
Meanwhile, the BBC will provide live coverage of England’s second match against Ghana and the eagerly-awaited meeting between Scotland and Brazil.
