The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, and while there will be 104 different battles on the pitch, there will also be a viewership contest between the BBC and ITV.
Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank will be commentators during the World Cup (Image: PA)
Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank will go head-to-head as pundits for rival broadcasters at this summer’s World Cup. The BBC and ITV are fleshing out their respective panels for tournaments to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The two broadcasters have vastly different plans to cover the sprawling 104-game tournament, but both boast star-studded panels. It has been revealed that Frank, who was sacked by Tottenham in February, will become one of the BBC’s lead analysts.
According to the Guardian, the Danes will be joined by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Joe Hart in the squad. Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is also a new Beeb signing.
As for Postecoglou, the man who replaced Frank in the Spurs dugout last summer has agreed to work for ITV. Their line-up includes Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright, as well as former Premier League winger Andros Townsend.
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Tottenham fans will note that Frank has yet to speak publicly about his sacking, although Postecoglou has spoken at length about his two-year spell in north London. Frank’s dismal 34.2 percent winning percentage is the worst of any permanent manager in Spurs history.
His successor, Igor Tudor, did not do much better. The interim manager lost five of seven games before current manager Roberto De Zerbi took over last month. Postecoglou joined Nottingham Forest in September but lasted just 39 days before receiving the ax.
ITV will broadcast England’s opening game against Croatia on Wednesday 17 June at 9pm, and the third group stage match against Panama on Saturday 27 June at 10pm. Meanwhile, the BBC has the rights to broadcast England’s second match against Ghana on Tuesday June 23rd at 9pm.
The BBC will be first to win the rights if England reach the last 32, last 16 and semi-finals. ITV will prioritize broadcasting England’s potential quarter-final, but both broadcasters will broadcast the final separately.
Which station has the better lineup of pundits? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
ITV will be filming on location for the entire World Cup, while the BBC will wait for the quarter-finals (Image: Getty Images)
ITV set up a swanky studio in Brooklyn, New York, for the duration of the tournament. Mark Pugach and Laura Woods will be lead presenters.
Meanwhile, the BBC will not leave their home base in Salford until the quarter-final stage. Their hosts are Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates.
The BBC’s decision was driven by financial and environmental factors, but former presenter Gary Lineker, who was supposed to spearhead World Cup coverage until his untimely exit, recently slammed his old bosses. “This World Cup is going to be different to all the other World Cups I’ve done for the BBC,” said Lineker, who will instead work for Netflix.
“I would have been in the Green Box in Salford, but now I’m in Times Square in New York City. It’s going to be exciting and very different, but it’s still very similar to the podcast.”
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