ITV viewers have voiced their fury over the broadcaster's coverage of the World Cup opening ceremony, branding it 'hopeless' and 'messy'. The ceremony took place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, but fans were left frustrated as ITV's pundits, including Roy Keane, Gary Neville, and Ian Wright, were based in Manhattan, thousands of miles away.
Viewers express disappointment
Taking to social media, fans expressed their disappointment with the lack of commentary on the acts being performed. One user, @kevinthehack, wrote: 'Great opening ceremony in Mexico for the World Cup but in typical style ITV have totally messed up the coverage. Keane, Neville and Wright sat in Manhattan thousands of miles away. No commentary of the acts we are seeing. Hopeless #WorldCup.'
Broadcaster under fire
The criticism comes as ITV faces backlash for its decision to have pundits commentate from a studio in New York rather than from the stadium in Mexico. Viewers felt this detracted from the atmosphere and left them disconnected from the event. Many called for better planning and more immersive coverage in future tournaments.
The opening ceremony featured traditional Mexican music and dance, celebrating the host nation's culture. However, the broadcast issues overshadowed the spectacle for many fans at home.
