Viewers Voice Displeasure Over Ant and Dec Interview
FIFA World Cup 2026 fans were quick to take to social media just minutes into ITV's coverage of England's match against Panama, expressing frustration over the appearance of presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly. The duo, known for hosting I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, were interviewed by Laura Woods in ITV's New York studio ahead of the 10pm UK kick-off at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
England had already secured their place in the last 32 after matches against Croatia and Ghana, leaving fans in high spirits. However, the sight of Ant and Dec on screen prompted a wave of negative reactions on X (formerly Twitter). One viewer wrote: "Ant and Dec FFS, I’ll switch back on at 9.55." Another said: "Ant and Dec appeared. I switched to Five Live."
Fans Demand Football-Focused Coverage
Many viewers questioned the decision to feature the entertainment stars during World Cup coverage. A fan exclaimed: "Surely they could have got better than ant and dec for the World Cup, so annoying!" Another asked: "No football people available tonight?" A sarcastic comment read: "I was just saying to myself 'We really don't see Ant and Dec on the tellybox enough'."
However, one fan defended the duo, arguing: "Ant and Dec are much better than Neville and Carragher." The last England match against Ghana ended in a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Meanwhile, Scotland, despite a 1-0 win over Haiti in their first match, have since lost to Morocco and Brazil. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is available on ITV and ITVX.
