BBC and ITV line ups for World Cup leaked with two ex-Premier League managers set to feature

British broadcasters ITV and BBC are reportedly set to employ two out-of-work former Premier League managers, as well as a former World Cup winner, to cover this summer’s tournament.

With the opening match of the 2026 World Cup now less than one month away, plans are starting to take shape ahead of the tournament, with participating nations registering their preliminary 55-man squads with FIFA on Monday (May 11).

Meanwhile, tournament organisers and broadcasters will be ramping up their preparations ahead of the biggest World Cup of all time, with 48 nations set to compete in 104 matches across three countries – the US, Mexico and Canada.

Unlike domestic football, the tournament will be free-to-air on terrestrial television channels ITV and BBC.

ITV and BBC World Cup punditry line-up ‘leaked’

ITV’s coverage will be led by presenters Laura Woods and Mark Pougatch, with the pair set to broadcast from a Brooklyn studio, while BBC trio Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates will present coverage from Salford until at least the quarter-final stage.

As reported by The Guardian, ITV’s punditry panel will feature Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Andros Townsend, while former Celtic, Spurs and Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou will also form part of the team.

Postecoglou’s Spurs successor, Thomas Frank, will be part of the BBC’s coverage, with the Dane set to work alongside pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Alan Shearer, as well as 2018 World Cup winner and former Chelsea and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud.

The Lille forward remains France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 strikes, although Kylian Mbappé, on 56, will likely break his record this summer should he feature at the tournament.

ITV has the rights to England’s opener against Croatia on June 17, their final group match against Panama, as well as the quarter-finals, should England reach the final eight of the competition.

The BBC will broadcast England’s second group match against Ghana on June 23, as well as the round of 32, round of 16 and, if they make it to that stage, the semi-finals.

Both ITV and BBC will have the rights to show the final on July 19.