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World Cup Final Host: BBC's Trio in Limbo
23 Feb
Summary
- BBC's Match of the Day hosts to share World Cup duties equally.
- The host for the World Cup final remains an unresolved question.
- Gary Lineker will present a daily Netflix podcast from New York.
The BBC is implementing a strategy of "no favourites" for its World Cup 2026 coverage, aiming for an equal distribution of presenting duties among Match of the Day hosts Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan. This approach underscores the corporation's commitment to fairness as planning for the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States takes shape.
Despite the equal share of regular matches, a significant question mark lingers over who will be assigned the prestigious task of hosting the World Cup final. This decision is still pending as production teams finalize their plans. The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams, increasing the total number of games to 104, adds logistical complexity and cost for broadcasters.
In a parallel development, Gary Lineker, who previously hosted Match of the Day for 26 years, will be involved in World Cup content through his "The Rest Is Football" podcast with Netflix, broadcasting daily from New York. The BBC has clarified that it will not fund expenses for presenters working on rival podcasts, including those involving its own pundits like Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
Behind the scenes, the BBC reports positive outcomes from its recent modernization of the Match of the Day brand. Despite a slight dip in traditional viewership, engagement across digital platforms has seen a 21% increase year-on-year. This digital growth, encompassing iPlayer and online clips, is seen as offsetting linear TV declines, with highlights now available earlier at 8 pm.
