How ITV is planning to 'blow Gary Lineker-less BBC out of the water' with 2026 World Cup coverage with Roy Keane & Gary Neville set to sign up as pundits

ITV will base itself in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of New York right from the start of the tournament, with their studio boasting views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan, according to The Telegraph. What's more, the terrestrial broadcaster is in advanced talks with a clutch of big-name pundits over reprising roles on the team, including Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright. Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods will share the hosting duties.

Meanwhile, the BBC - who won't have Gary Lineker presenting their World Cup coverage for the first time since 1998 - are going for a more pared-back approach for the first phase of the tournament, which is being hosted across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Their team of presenters and pundits will initially work from the BBC Sport's Salford base, with joint Match of the Day hosts Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan fronting their coverage. It's not yet clear when they will head stateside for the knockout rounds. Pundit Alan Shearer will jet out to the tournament from the first game to fulfil co-commentary duties. Micah Richards will also form part of the BBC team.

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With more games than ever before following the World Cup's expansion from 32 teams to 48, the battle of the viewing figures and TV ratings will be fierce this summer. Of the 72 group phase matches, the BBC will broadcast 38 while there will be 34 on ITV. England's first and final group games will be on ITV, but their round of 32, last 16 and semi-finals would be on the BBC, should they progress that far. The final will be broadcast on both channels as usual.

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