With excitement building in the final run-up to the FIFA World Cup 2022, here’s how you can watch the drama unfold this winter.
ITV and BBC have confirmed the TV schedule and all games will be shown live, split between the two networks.
This will continue the tournament’s free-to-air broadcasting for UK viewers.
The BBC will air 33 live games on TV and iPlayer, starting with this weekend’s opener which sees Qatar take on Ecuador at 7pm.
ITV and ITV Hub will show 32 live matches, completing the analysis of every game on UK TV.
The BBC also boast exclusive live coverage for two of England’s three group-stage fixtures including their opening match against Iran and home nation clash with Wales.
ITV will complete the schedule by showing England’s second Qatar 2022 match against the USA.
Viewers will be able to see Wales make their first World Cup appearance since 1958, kicking off against the United States on ITV, followed by their Iran showdown on the BBC.
Welsh fans can also watch every group stage Wales fixture live in the native welsh language on the free-to-air broadcaster S4C.
How to watch every England group stage match
England v Iran – 1pm, 21 Nov – BBC One
England v USA – 7pm, 25 Nov – ITV
England v Wales – 7pm, 29 Nov – BBC One
Quarters, Semis and Final
Fans will be spoilt for choice on the 18th of December as both ITV and the BBC will broadcast the FIFA World Cup Final.
The BBC will have first pick of the semis with ITV covering the second, whereas in the quarters ITV have first choice seeing the four games split evenly.
Pundits and Presenters
Both channels have announced their illustrious line-ups, complete with presenters, pundits, commentary and a few unique additions.
Gary Lineker will take the lead on the BBC, with Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates all contributing to the network’s presenting team sheet.
Former professional footballers and celebrated pundits Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, Alex Scott and Micah Richards will be just a few weighing in on analysis throughout the tournament.
Your Welsh punditry will be provided by Ian Rush, Ashley Williams and Danny Gabbidon, while international opinion will be on our screens in the form of Didier Drogba, Gilberto Silva and Pablo Zabaleta among others.
ITV have Mark Pugatch, Laura Wood and Seema Jaswal presenting upfront with some of the star-studded punditry coming from Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville.
ITV is set to feature a unique referee analyst to break down all the key on-field decisions and controversies – Peter Walton will take up this challenge.
The commentary line-ups feature names like Guy Mowbray and Jonathan Pearce for the BBC, whereas Sam Matterface and Clive Tyldesley will be the main voices behind the mic for ITV.
For all our FIFA World Cup 2022 content click here.
Featured image credit: Serg Stallone under Creative Commons
