The BBC and ITV are once again sharing live coverage of the World Cup in the UK, with all 104 matches from across the US, Canada and Mexico to be shown for free on TV.
However, the two broadcasters are taking very different approaches to covering the biggest tournament in World Cup history, which is featuring 48 teams for the very first time.
ITV presenters Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods and Semra Hunter are anchoring coverage of the channel’s games from their studio in Brooklyn, New York, which boasts views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
But the BBC have decided instead to remain this side of the Atlantic, with the corporation hosting coverage from their studio in Salford.
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The BBC has insisted their brand new, state of the art immersive studio will ‘transport viewers to 16 cities across three host nations’.
The BBC studio team, which is being led by presenters Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Alex Scott, could still touchdown in North America – although not until the quarter-final stage at the earliest.
The BBC will still have an on-the-ground presence throughout the World Cup, though, with commentators present themselves at matches to cover the action.
The reason for the BBC’s no-show in the early rounds of the tournament is due to a combination of financial and environmental considerations.
The cost of covering an expanded 48-team tournament across three different countries represents a significant increase on the normal World Cup outlay, not to mention the associated logistical nightmare.
Remaining at their BBC Sport base in Salford will also reduce air travel, which is essential to their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.
The BBC’s punditry line-up consists of the likes of Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney, all of whom are regulars on the channel’s football output throughout the normal football season.
BBC and ITV World Cup teams
BBC
Presenters
- Kelly Cates – works on Match of the Day and with Sky Sports
- Mark Chapman – works on Match of the Day and with Sky Sports
- Gabby Logan – BBC presenter since 2007
- Alex Scott – Former Arsenal and England defender
Pundits
- Alan Shearer – Former Newcastle, Blackburn and England striker
- Wayne Rooney – Former Man Utd and Everton striker and England’s second-highest goalscorer
- Micah Richards – former Man City and England defender
- Joe Hart – former Man City and England goalkeeper
- Steph Houghton – former England defender and captain
- Ellen White – former England striker and Euro 2022 winner
- Scott Brown – former Celtic and Scotland midfielder
- Olivier Giroud – former Arsenal and Chelsea striker and World Cup winner with France
- Gael Clichy – former Arsenal, Man City and France defender
- Cesar Azpilicueta – former Chelsea and Spain defender
- Benni McCarthy – former Blackburn striker and South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer
- Ashley Williams – former Swansea and Everton defender and Wales captain
- Thomas Frank – former Brentford and Tottenham manager
- Darren Cann (referee analyst) – over 500 games as a Premier League referee
ITV
Presenters
- Mark Pougatch – Lead presenter for ITV’s football and rugby coverage
- Laura Woods – fronts TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage
- Semra Hunter – presents coverage of Spanish football in the UK
Pundits
- Roy Keane – former Man Utd and Republic of Ireland captain
- Ian Wright – former Arsenal, Crystal Palace and England striker
- Gary Neville – former Man Utd and England defender
- Patrick Vieira – former Arsenal captain and World Cup winner with France
- Karen Carney – former Chelsea and England midfielder
- Ange Postecoglou – former Celtic, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest manager
- Juan Mata – former Chelsea and Man Utd midfielder and World Cup winner with Spain
- Emma Hayes – former Chelsea manager and current USA boss
- Duncan Ferguson – former Everton striker
- Jobi McAnuff – former Reading and Jamaica winger
- Bradley Wright-Phillips – former Southampton and New York Red Bulls striker
- Christina Unkel (referee analyst) – former FIFA referee
ITV’s team of experts is also not lacking in star power, with Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright on hand to provide their insight and analysis.
The BBC will show live coverage of England’s second group stage game against Ghana on June 23, as well as Scotland’s opener against Haiti on June 14 and their mouthwatering clash with Brazil on June 24.
ITV, meanwhile, will air England’s other two group matches against Croatia and Panama on June 17 and 27 respectively, alongside Scotland’s meeting with Morocco on June 19.
The BBC will show 54 games exclusively live on TV over the five week period, which is marginally more than ITV with 51.