Wayne Rooney is working as a pundit for the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
The World Cup is taking centre stage this summer with millions of viewers tuning into the action across the UK.
The BBC and ITV are once again sharing the rights, with all 104 matches across the US, Canada and Mexico being shown live and for free on TV – including England’s Round of 32 clash with DR Congo on Wednesday evening.
Both broadcasters have assembled an impressive collection of on-screen talent, with the likes of Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Roy Keane amongst the stars who are offering their expert analysis.
But whilst the BBC and ITV are both stacked with big names, their respective approaches to covering the tournament are very different – at least to start off with.
Don’t miss a World Cup moment
England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Get it all in our daily World Cup newsletter. Sign up.
Instead of making the trip across the pond to North America, the BBC have elected to present games from their immersive studio in Salford until the latter stages of the knockouts.
The decision to stay in the UK has been made with financial and environmental considerations in mind, with the BBC eager to keep costs for the expanded 48-team tournament to a minimum whilst also committing to reducing its carbon footprint.
ITV, on the other hand, are based in Brooklyn, New York, for the duration of the competition, and their studio boasts views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
BBC
The BBC’s output is being fronted by presenters Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott.
Cates, Chapman and Logan replaced Gary Lineker as cost-hosts of Match of the Day last year, with this summer’s World Cup the first major international men’s tournament since 2002 in which Lineker has not been on presenting duties for the corporation.
Logan is the main presenter for the BBC (Picture: Getty)
Logan is expected to be the presenter for the World Cup final, making her the first-ever woman to present the BBC’s coverage of the biggest game in men’s football.
Shearer, Rooney and Micah Richards are joined on the BBC’s punditry team by the likes of England legends Joe Hart, Steph Houghton and Ellen White.
An international perspective, meanwhile, is being provided by pundits including Olivier Giroud, Gael Clichy and Cesar Azpilicueta, whilst former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is also on hand to offer extra expertise.
Viewers who regularly follow the BBC’s football output will be familiar with the voices of Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan Pearce, all of whom are part of the commentary team.
Mowbray is the lead commentator and is commentating on England’s games for the BBC, alongside Shearer as co-commentator.
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
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
Commentators
Guy Mowbray – Lead commentator and Match of the Day regular
Steve Wilson – Match of the Day commentator since 2004
Steve Bower – Match of the Day commentator and Amazon Prime presenter
Jonathan Pearce – Match of the Day commentator since 2004
Robyn Cowen – Match of the Day and women’s football commentator
Steven Wyeth – Match of the Day and TNT Sports commentator
Liam McLeod – lead BBC Scotland commentator since 2010
Danny Murphy – former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder
Stephen Warnock – former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender
Efan Ekoku – former Norwich and Wimbledon striker
Martin Keown – former Arsenal and England defender
Sue Smith – former England forward
Rachel Corsie – former Scotland defender
James McFadden – former Everton, Birmingham and Scotland forward
Paul Robinson – former Leeds, Tottenham and Blackburn goalkeeper
ITV
ITV’s coverage is being fronted by the popular duo of Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods.
Neville and Keane are the standout personalities on ITV’s punditry line-up, which also features the likes of Ian Wright, Patrick Vieira and Karen Carney.
Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou and current US Women’s manager Emma Hayes are also sharing their views from a coach’s perspective as part of ITV’s output.
Roy Keane and Ian Wright are on punditry duty for ITV (Picture: Getty)
The commentary team is being led by Sam Matterface, Jon Champion and Seb Hutchinson, with the ever-popular Ally McCoist amongst the co-commentators.
Matterface is tasked with commentating on the games involving England, alongside co-commentator and former Three Lions player Lee Dixon.
ITV
Presenters
Mark Pougatch – Lead presenter for ITV’s football and rugby coverage
Laura Woods – fronts TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage
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
Commentators
Sam Matterface – lead commentator and regular with TNT Sports and Talksport
Jon Champion – covers English football for US broadcasters
Seb Hutchinson – works on Sky’s coverage of the Premier League
Joe Speight – covers the Premier League for NBC Sports
Lee Dixon – former Arsenal and England defender
Ally McCoist – former Rangers and Scotland striker
Andros Townsend – former Crystal Palace and England winger
