ITV has secured an early advantage over the BBC ahead of this summer's World Cup by establishing a studio in Brooklyn, New York, with views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. The broadcaster's coverage, presented by Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods, will be based entirely from this location. In contrast, the BBC team of Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates will remain in Salford until at least the quarter-finals.
The BBC's decision to stay in the UK was driven by financial and environmental considerations, as the corporation aims to limit air travel to reduce its carbon footprint. The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams and 104 matches, along with Fifa's choice to host the tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has significantly increased costs and travel logistics, influencing the BBC's approach.
ITV plans to make the most of its New York location by producing travelogues and mini documentaries to complement its live coverage. Pundits Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright will be in the US throughout the tournament. As part of its agreement with the BBC, ITV will broadcast 51 matches, including England's opening game against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, their final group match against Panama, and Scotland's fixture against Morocco on 19 June.
ITV has secured three quarter-finals, including the first two picks, while the BBC has first pick of the semi-finals and will show England's matches in the last 32 and last 16 if they qualify. Both broadcasters will air the final live. Historically, the BBC achieves higher ratings when the two go head-to-head, with a peak audience of 15 million for the 2022 World Cup final, compared to ITV's 4.3 million. However, ITV draws large audiences when it is the sole broadcaster, such as a peak of 10.2 million for England's Women's Euro 2025 semi-final win last summer.
