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The BBC have unveiled their line-up of presenters, pundits and co-commentators for this summer’s World Cup, with fresh faces set to anchor their coverage following Gary Lineker’s exit last summer.
The channel is set to show 54 matches across the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico and will have several star names among their roster.
Alongside the usual group of Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart, former Tottenham and Brentford boss Thomas Frank will be part of the BBC’s team.
Frank spent time as a pundit on the channel during Euro 2024, and he will be joined by others including Theo Walcott, Sue Smith, Ellen White, Conor Coady and Gael Clichy.
However, the most eye-catching additions for the channel are former Premier League stars Olivier Giroud, Cesar Azpilicueta, Benni McCarthy and Lucas Leiva, with the quartet expected to add global insight and international edge.
Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will present the BBC’s coverage during the tournament, replacing Lineker.
The BBC have unveiled their presenters, pundits and co-commentators for the World Cup
World Cup winner Olivier Giroud is in the channel’s star-studded line-up for the tournament
Speaking about the plans, BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: ‘The BBC is turning the biggest World Cup in history into the most iconic one yet.
‘We’re bringing fans closer to every match, every moment and every story than ever before.
‘Sport truly unites people like nothing else so we can’t wait for fans to enjoy not just the live matches with us but an abundance of football content, all day, every day across our platforms.
‘Whether it’s our new series on YouTube and iPlayer, the biggest news stories on our website and app, our daily podcasts on Sounds or the viral moments on social media – we’re here for audiences 24/7 this summer, taking them straight to the heart of the World Cup.’
In a groundbreaking move, the BBC will also broadcast the build-up and first 10 minutes of some of the biggest matches on YouTube and TikTok.
Elsewhere, they have unveiled a brand new immersive studio in Salford which they say will take viewers to the 16 host cities.
It comes with the channel set to base their pundits and commentators at the BBC’s Salford headquarters until the quarter-final stage, given the high travel and accommodation costs around the tournament.
All 104 World Cup matches will be available on free-to-air TV in the UK, with the games split between BBC and ITV.
ITV will have England’s first and final group matches against Croatia and Panama respectively, with the BBC to show the second match against Ghana.
The BBC will also broadcast the last-32, last-16 and semi-final ties if the Three Lions make it that far.
ITV will have the quarter-final and both channels are set to show the final.
