Both broadcasters have outlined their plans for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which takes place this November and December, including which broadcaster will carry each group stage game.
The BBC will show England’s opening match versus Iran as well as the possible Home Nations group match against the final European qualifier, which will be one of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine.
ITV will show England’s group game against the USA and will have picks one and two of the round of 16 and first pick of the quarter-final stages.
The tournament will kick off on ITV [and STV in Scotland] on 21st November with coverage of the first match between the Netherlands and Senegal.
Should Wales or Scotland qualify, ITV will show their group match versus the USA. ITV will also show standout group stage matches featuring number one FIFA ranked country Brazil’s matches against Switzerland and Cameroon, World Cup holders France’s key match against Denmark, as well as games involving other heavyweights Argentina, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Meanwhile, the BBC will have first pick of the semi-final stage of the tournament and will also show mouth-watering group matches between Spain and Germany, Brazil and Serbia and Argentina and Poland – as well as two matches with the world champions France and all of Belgium’s group games.
Coverage
BBC
- BBC One
- BBC iPlayer & BBC Red Button
- BBC Radio 5 Live
- BBC Sounds
ITV / STV
- ITV
- STV (for viewers in Central and Northern Scotland)
- ITVX
- STV Player (Scottish postcodes)
Group stage game split
| Date | Match | Kick Off (UK time) | Broadcaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | |||
| Monday 21st | Senegal vs Netherlands | 10am | ITV |
| Monday 21st | England vs Iran | 1pm | BBC |
| Monday 21st | Qatar vs Ecuador | 4pm | BBC |
| Monday 21st | USA vs Ukraine/Scotland/Wales | 7pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 22nd | Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | 10am | ITV |
| Tuesday 22nd | Denmark vs Tunisia | 1pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 22nd | Mexico vs Poland | 4pm | BBC |
| Tuesday 22nd | France vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 23rd | Morocco vs Croatia | 10am | ITV |
| Wednesday 23rd | Germany vs Japan | 1pm | ITV |
| Wednesday 23rd | Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 4pm | ITV |
| Wednesday 23rd | Belgium vs Canada | 7pm | BBC |
| Thursday 24th | Switzerland vs Cameroon | 10am | ITV |
| Thursday 24th | Uruguay vs South Korea | 1pm | BBC |
| Thursday 24th | Portugal vs Ghana | 4pm | ITV |
| Thursday 24th | Brazil vs Serbia | 7pm | BBC |
| Friday 25th | Ukraine/Scotland/Wales vs Iran | 10am | BBC |
| Friday 25th | Qatar vs Senegal | 1pm | BBC |
| Friday 25th | Netherlands vs Ecuador | 4pm | ITV |
| Friday 25th | England vs USA | 7pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26th | Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 10am | BBC |
| Saturday 26th | Poland vs Saudi Arabia | 1pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26th | France vs Denmark | 4pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26th | Argentina vs Mexico | 7pm | ITV |
| Sunday 27th | Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 10am | ITV |
| Sunday 27th | Belgium vs Morocco | 1pm | BBC |
| Sunday 27th | Croatia vs Canada | 4pm | BBC |
| Sunday 27th | Spain vs Germany | 7pm | BBC |
| Monday 28th | Cameroon vs Serbia | 10am | ITV |
| Monday 28th | South Korea vs Ghana | 1pm | BBC |
| Monday 28th | Brazil vs Switzerland | 4pm | ITV |
| Monday 28th | Portugal vs Uruguay | 7pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29th | Ecuador vs Senegal | 3pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29th | Netherlands vs Qatar | 3pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29th | Iran vs United States | 7pm | BBC |
| Tuesday 29th | Ukraine/Scotland/Wales vs England | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30th | Tunisia vs France | 3pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30th | UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark | 3pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30th | Poland vs Argentina | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30th | Saudi Arabia vs Mexico | 7pm | BBC |
| December | |||
| Thursday 1st | Canada vs Morocco | 4pm | BBC |
| Thursday 1st | Croatia vs Belgium | 4pm | BBC |
| Thursday 1st | Japan vs Spain | 7pm | ITV |
| Thursday 1st | Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany | 7pm | ITV |
| Friday 2nd | Ghana vs Uruguay | 4pm | BBC |
| Friday 2nd | South Korea vs Portugal | 4pm | BBC |
| Friday 2nd | Serbia vs Switzerland | 7pm | ITV |
| Friday 2nd | Cameroon vs Brazil | 7pm | ITV |
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, says:
“The World Cup is now in focus and we’re delighted to be able to bring viewers coverage of what promises to be some of the standout games of the tournament across ITV channels and our new free streaming service ITVX, which launches this autumn. We’re kicking-off with the opening match and will show England’s group stage match against the USA as well as games involving tournament favourites such as Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain and the Netherlands. Plus, we have picks one and two of the round of 16 and pick one of the quarter-finals. The ITV Sport team is now looking forward to bringing viewers the very best of the first winter World Cup.”
Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport says:
“We are very excited about our selection of matches. We have two England group games – their opening group game with Iran and then the enticing match up against either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine – as well as the heavyweight clash between Spain and Germany, big games involving Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, France and Belgium, and the first pick of the semi-finals. With extensive 24/7 coverage across BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, radio, online and social media, the World Cup promises to be a huge event to wrap up a major sporting year on the BBC.”