We are less than a week away from the World Cup starting. When we all sit down in front of our television sets on Thursday evening, it will signal the start of five weeks of footballing heaven.
Many fans will be glued to their televisions over the next month. They will range from willing England and Scotland on from back in the UK to watching newbies Curacao and Cape Verde take their bow on the world stage.
People will find themselves watching matches that they’d never normally be bothered by, but this is the World Cup, and every clash is intriguing – this year there will be more than ever.
If you want to watch the games from within the UK, the usual pair of networks are where you will go. The big two, BBC and ITV, will show their own particular games before both broadcast the final.
Both channels have announced star-studded line-ups, featuring a range of presenters, pundits, reporters, and special guests who will guide you through the tournament.
But how do the two rosters compare? Here, Daily Mail Sport goes through various categories to see which major broadcaster is leading the way this summer.
BBC have revealed their work from home World Cup line-up for this summer’s tournament
ITV will have pundits such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright as part of their team out in the US
Presenters
BBC:
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, Alex Scott
It’s the beginning of a new era for the BBC’s World Cup coverage. For the first time since 1998, Gary Lineker will not be fronting the flagship network’s coverage of the tournament after the messy ending to their 26-year marriage last year. Operations will also be based at their Salford HQ until the quarter-final stage, given the high travel and accommodation costs in the host countries.
But there is no need to worry; the coverage is in the safe hands of Match of the Day’s dazzling trio of presenters, who have effortlessly taken on the mantle of Lineker’s former role this past year.
Alex Scott also brings good vibes and lots of energy, providing a different but much-needed style to her presenting colleagues. They form a diverse quartet who all supply different voices to coverage.
Rating: 8.5/10
ITV:
Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods, Semra Hunter and Adam Richman
ITV have gone with their usual dynamic duo for the tournament. The ever-reliable Mark Pougatch always knows how to steer coverage in the right direction, while Woods’ conversational, relaxed style is equally engaging to watch.
They are joined by Semra Hunter, the studio’s American voice, and bizarrely Adam Richman, who is known for the reality television series Man V. Food. Based in Brooklyn, the duo will provide a different angle of coverage.
However, while ITV have some brilliant presenters, two of them have come under much scrutiny of late. Pougatch and Woods have hit the headlines due to social media comments that have altered some of the public’s perception of their abilities.
Pougatch received backlash from fans online when he posted that broadcasters ‘should never ever, ever, ever use the word “disaster”‘ when reporting on football. Meanwhile, Woods has been accused of bias by Scotland fans after she claimed that World Cup coverage from British broadcasters will be ‘mostly English’. The heat they have endured affects their score here, so round one goes to the BBC.
Rating: 7/10
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This will be the first time since 1998 in which BBC’s lead presenter won’t be Gary Lineker with Mark Chapman (left), Gabby Logan (middle) and Kelly Cates (right) filling is shoes
Mark Pougatch (front), Laura Woods (right), Semra Hunter (left) are ITV’s presenters
Pundits
BBC:
Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson, Steph Houghton, Ellen White, Danny Murphy, Ashley Williams, Scott Brown, Rachel Corsie, James McFadden and Darren Cann
The usual suspects will be providing punditry for the BBC. Micah Richards and Alan Shearer will be key to the coverage but will be juggling commitments as they also form part of The Rest Is Football podcast with Lineker, which has been acquired by Netflix, with the show being recorded from New York.
Joe Hart will also provide cutting-edge analysis after his rise through the punditry ranks these last few years, while they have an all-Scottish contingent prepped for the Tartan Army’s games.
Ellen White is a growing name in punditry after her retirement from the women’s game, and is a strong addition. However, the cohort as a whole isn’t quite as stacked as past World Cups, with a little left to be desired.
Rating: 6.5/10
ITV:
Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Emma Hayes, Duncan Ferguson and Jobi McAnuff
They say go big or go home, and well, ITV have gone massive. The network are bringing a stacked punditry squad to the US, one that wouldn’t do too badly out in a six-a-side legends tournament.
They have the humour in Ian Wright and Roy Keane, the insightfulness of Emma Hayes, and the experience of Gary Neville and Karen Carney. A brilliant blend of wittiness and industry-leading analysis that will have fans flocking to their channel throughout the tournament.
Rating: 8/10
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BBC’s pundits such as Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards (pictured) will have to provide analysis from the Salford base and not the US
Guest pundits
BBC:
Olivier Giroud, Gael Clichy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Benni McCarthy, Lucas Leiva and Thomas Frank
A World Cup wouldn’t be a World Cup without networks drafting in some current and ex-pros to cover games for them. The BBC brought in some big dogs, with 2018 World Cup winner and France’s all-time leading scorer, Olivier Giroud, venturing into the world of punditry.
Perhaps the biggest news, though, is that just four months after being sacked as Tottenham’s head coach, Thomas Frank will be joining the Beeb’s team. Frank, who is yet to speak publicly since his dismissal, is a valuable addition; he can hold a room comfortably and will provide in-depth tactical knowledge from a coaching perspective.
Overall, the BBC certainly have strength in depth when it comes to guest pundits, with a wide variety of voices who can be used when the big countries outside of England are involved in matches.
Rating: 7.5/10
ITV:
Patrick Vieira, Ange Postecoglou, Juan Mata and Bradley Wright-Phillips
It’s not only a battle of the networks, but a battle of the former Tottenham managers, too. BBC have Frank and ITV have his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.
In terms of success in north London, it’s clear that Postecoglou came out on top. He won them their first trophy in 17 years, a perfect goodbye present before he was given the boot, while the only cup Frank got hold of was an Arsenal-branded coffee one, which was the beginning of the end of his time at the club.
Their styles were different in the dugout, and they are almost certainly different in the studio. Postecoglou will most likely provide a more humorous but critical approach to his analysis than Frank, which will be entertaining to many. The man is box office.
However, while they have the star power in Postecoglou, their contingent is small, with only four non-British-focused pundits. Even the likes of Juan Mata and Patrick Vieira can’t help them overpower the quality of the BBC’s team.
Rating: 7/10
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Tottenham’s former managers Ange Postecoglou (left) and Thomas Frank (right) will go head-to-headas the former works for ITv and the latter the BBC
Commentators
BBC:
Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower, Jonathan Pearce, Robyn Cowen, Steven Wyeth, Liam McLeod, Alan Shearer, Stephen Warnock, Efan Ekoku, Martin Keown and Sue Smith
BBC clearly place high importance on commentators as they are bringing enough to form a World Cup playing side of their own, and a bit of a bench, too. That’s discounting the Radio 5 Live squad that will be travelling across the pond.
Stalwart Guy Mowbray will be the kingpin of BBC’s commentary booth; a man who always delivers memorable lines on the biggest stage. He is backed up by serious quality, too.
But while BBC’s lead voices of the beautiful game are up there with the very best, the same can’t be said about their co-commentators. There are plenty of them, with Shearer once again taking to the booth following his famous ‘pressure is for tyres’ line in 2024, but they aren’t a group to get excited about.
Rating: 8.5/10
ITV:
Sam Matterface, Jon Champion, Seb Hutchinson, Joe Speight, Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist, Andros Townsend and Lucy Ward
On the flip side, ITV’s commentary squad includes some of the best co-commentators in the game. Ally McCoist is everywhere these days, a master of the arts. He delivers both comedic and thoughtful analysis; many believe he is the best out there.
When it comes to lead commentators, they are well stocked, too. Sam Matterface, Jon Champion and Seb Hutchinson are some of the best sports storytellers we listen to these days.
Overall, while not as heavily stocked as the Beeb in the booth, the all-round quality of ITV’s line-up means that they edge this category.
Rating: 9/10
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Ally McCoist will be on co-commentary duty for ITV and is one of the best in the business
Shearer will be one of few BBC pundits actually working from North America as he will double up in the booth
Reporters
BBC:
Kelly Somers and Eilidh Barbour
There will be two television reporters on the ground in the US for the BBC; one covering England and the other big boys in action, and the other focusing on all things Scotland.
Kelly Somers will reprise her role as the main reporter after providing cutting-edge coverage during the Qatar World Cup. Meanwhile, Eilidh Barbour will bring the latest news from within the Tartan Army’s camp.
Rating: 8/10
ITV:
Gabriel Clarke and Connie McLaughlin
It’s hard to look past ITV in this category, mainly due to the fact they have Gabriel Clarke within their ranks. There aren’t many better than Clarke when it comes to live reporting from the ground; he just has one of those voices you could listen to on loop. Connie McLaughlin, meanwhile, will be the Scotland correspondent after impressing with her reporting on Premier Sports.
Rating: 9/10
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Result
It was a close battle. Both BBC and ITV have their strengths and weaknesses in different areas when it comes to the teams they have built for this World Cup, but overall the latter just edge it in our ratings. Only one point splits the networks after scoring them in five categories.
BBC: 39/50
ITV: 40/50
