Alex presents Football Focus from 2021 (Image: Matt McNulty – The FA, The FA via Getty Images)
The BBC introduced some significant changes to its football programming from the start of the season. The broadcaster recently confirmed that ‘Football Focus’, which first aired on Grandstand in 1974, will be discontinued at the end of the campaign.
A BBC press release said the decision to end the long-running show, which has starred Alex Scott since 2021, was due to “changes in audience behavior” and “the need to respond appropriately”. Alex Kay Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Football Focus is a hugely important program in BBC Sport’s history, playing a key role in telling the story of the game to generations of viewers. This decision, which comes ahead of the BBC’s wider savings announcement last week, reflects the continued change in the way viewers engage with football and our commitment to evolving the way we deliver content that fans can watch wherever they are.” The removal of Football Focus from the BBC’s weekly schedule will have a knock-on effect on other football shows next season, but the campaign has already seen significant changes to Match of the Day. Here, Express Sport looks at how the broadcaster has changed its football coverage over the past year.
new weekend schedule
The gap left by Football Focus has resulted in the BBC implementing two schedule changes for next season. The show currently occupies the Saturday lunch slot and previews the weekend’s games.
It has been confirmed that ‘The Football Interview’ presented by Kelly Summers will be rescheduled to Saturdays at 12.45pm for the 2025/26 season. Notable guests on this season’s show include Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike and Manchester United manager Michael Carrick.
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Additionally, Final Score will begin as early as 3:45 p.m., providing fans with up-to-date information on games across the country. Similar to Football Focus, the show was originally formed as part of Grandstand and became an independent program in 2001, hosted by Jason Mohammad. Both The Football Interview and Final Score are also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
“Match of the Day” name change
A subtle adjustment has been made to this season’s Match of the Day, as the BBC has scrapped the Match of the Day 2 title on the Sunday edition of the program. The broadcaster’s Champions League highlights show also uses the ‘Today’s Match’ banner to help fans find football highlights.
Jason Mohammad announces final score on BBC Sport (Image: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
Ahead of the season, Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman told the Radio Times: “I’ve never really thought about Saturday and Sunday in particular so I’m really intrigued.” Fellow Match of the Day presenter Gabby Logan added: “Match of the Day 2 has had a stronger line-up in recent weeks. Match of the Day takes place on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday (where Champions League highlights are played). It’s not Match of the Day 1 or Match of the Day 2, it’s just Match of the Day.”
The BBC further underlined its commitment to strengthening its online offering by making the weekend’s Premier League highlights available at 8pm, 30 minutes after the final match of the night. These video packages will be accessible on the BBC Sport app, website and iPlayer ahead of the Match of the Day broadcast on Saturday or Sunday night.
Presenter renewal
This season marks a new chapter for Match of the Day following the departure of former presenter Gary Lineker. The 65-year-old has fronted the BBC’s flagship football program since 1999.
Gary Lineker left Match of the Day at the end of the 2024/25 season (Image: Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images)
The BBC revealed last year that three presenters would share the prestigious role. Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have taken turns hosting various editions of the program throughout the campaign.
Rogan, who was chosen as one of three hosts on Match of the Day, admitted: “There’s a big responsibility to make sure we keep evolving while respecting the tradition of Match of the Day. People want to see goals, they want to see things happen, they want to see the moments that people are talking about. So we can tinker around the edges, but at the core it’s football.”
“Once you sit in that chair and the theme music starts, you know it’s going to be a really great moment. I’ve worked with a lot of critics and they’re all great, so I’m just looking forward to getting started,” Cates said of hosting the popular show.
Regarding sharing presenting duties with Cates and Logan, Chapman said: “This is not about the three of us, it’s about the three of us plus the critics, the editors, the analysts and statisticians, the production staff, the radio and online people. It’s really about all of us working together as a department.”
