BBC and ITV have revealed their coverage plans for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, following last week’s draw for the tournament.
The BBC will show England’s opening match against Iran as well as the possible Home Nations group match against the final European qualifier, which will be one of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine.
We are very excited about our selection of matches. We have two England group games – their opening group game with Iran and then the enticing match up against either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine – as well as the heavyweight clash between Spain and Germany, big games involving Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, France and Belgium, and the first pick of the semi-finals. With extensive 24/7 coverage across BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, radio, online and social media, the World Cup promises to be a huge event to wrap up a major sporting year on the BBC.
— Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport
ITV will show England’s group game against the USA and will have picks one and two of the Round of 16 and the first pick of the quarter-final stages. Should Wales or Scotland qualify, ITV will show their group match against the USA.
The BBC will have first pick of the semi-final stage of the tournament and will also show mouth-watering group matches between Spain and Germany, Brazil and Serbia and Argentina and Poland – as well as two matches with the world champions France and all of Belgium’s group games.
ITV will also show standout group stage matches featuring number one FIFA ranked country Brazil against Switzerland and Cameroon, World Cup holders France’s key match against Denmark, as well as games involving other heavyweights Argentina, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal.
The tournament will kick off on ITV and STV in Scotland on 21 November with coverage of the first match between the Netherlands and Senegal.
Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport says: “We are very excited about our selection of matches. We have two England group games – their opening group game with Iran and then the enticing matchup against either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine – as well as the heavyweight clash between Spain and Germany, big games involving Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, France and Belgium, and the first pick of the semi-finals.
With extensive 24/7 coverage across BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, radio, online and social media, the World Cup promises to be a huge event to wrap up a major sporting year on the BBC.”
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, says: “The World Cup is now in focus and we’re delighted to be able to bring viewers coverage of what promises to be some of the standout games of the tournament across ITV channels and our new free streaming service ITVX, which launches this autumn.
We’re kicking off with the opening match and will show England’s group stage match against the USA as well as games involving tournament favourites such as Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain and the Netherlands.
Plus, we have picks one and two of the round of 16 and pick one of the quarter-finals. The ITV Sport team is now looking forward to bringing viewers the very best of the first winter World Cup.”
All ITV games will be shown on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
World Cup 2022 – Group stage game split
| Date | Match | Kick Off (GMT) | Broadcaster |
| Monday 21 November | Senegal vs Netherlands | 10am | ITV |
| Monday 21 November | England vs Iran | 1pm | BBC |
| Monday 21 November | Qatar vs Ecuador | 4pm | BBC |
| Monday 21 November | USA vs Ukraine/Scotland/Wales | 7pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 22 November | Argentina vs Saudi Arabia | 10am | ITV |
| Tuesday 22 November | Denmark vs Tunisia | 1pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 22 November | Mexico vs Poland | 4pm | BBC |
| Tuesday 22 November | France vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 23 November | Morocco vs Croatia | 10am | ITV |
| Wednesday 23 November | Germany vs Japan | 1pm | ITV |
| Wednesday 23 November | Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 4pm | ITV |
| Wednesday 23 November | Belgium vs Canada | 7pm | BBC |
| Thursday 24 November | Switzerland vs Cameroon | 10am | ITV |
| Thursday 24 November | Uruguay vs South Korea | 1pm | BBC |
| Thursday 24 November | Portugal vs Ghana | 4pm | ITV |
| Thursday 24 November | Brazil vs Serbia | 7pm | BBC |
| Friday 25 November | Ukraine/Scotland/Wales vs Iran | 10am | BBC |
| Friday 25 November | Qatar vs Senegal | 1pm | BBC |
| Friday 25 November | Netherlands vs Ecuador | 4pm | ITV |
| Friday 25 November | England vs USA | 7pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26 November | Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru | 10am | BBC |
| Saturday 26 November | Poland vs Saudi Arabia | 1pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26 November | France vs Denmark | 4pm | ITV |
| Saturday 26 November | Argentina vs Mexico | 7pm | ITV |
| Sunday 27 November | Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand | 10am | ITV |
| Sunday 27 November | Belgium vs Morocco | 1pm | BBC |
| Sunday 27 November | Croatia vs Canada | 4pm | BBC |
| Sunday 27 November | Spain vs Germany | 7pm | BBC |
| Monday 28 November | Cameroon vs Serbia | 10am | ITV |
| Monday 28 November | South Korea vs Ghana | 1pm | BBC |
| Monday 28 November | Brazil vs Switzerland | 4pm | ITV |
| Monday 28 November | Portugal vs Uruguay | 7pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29 November | Ecuador vs Senegal | 3pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29 November | Netherlands vs Qatar | 3pm | ITV |
| Tuesday 29 November | Iran vs United States | 7pm | BBC |
| Tuesday 29 November | Ukraine/Scotland/Wales vs England | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30 November | Tunisia vs France | 3pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30 November | UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark | 3pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30 November | Poland vs Argentina | 7pm | BBC |
| Wednesday 30 November | Saudi Arabia vs Mexico | 7pm | BBC |
| Thursday 1 December | Canada vs Morocco | 4pm | BBC |
| Thursday 1 December | Croatia vs Belgium | 4pm | BBC |
| Thursday 1 December | Japan vs Spain | 7pm | ITV |
| Thursday 1 December | Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany | 7pm | ITV |
| Friday 2 December | Ghana vs Uruguay | 4pm | BBC |
| Friday 2 December | South Korea vs Portugal | 4pm | BBC |
| Friday 2 December | Serbia vs Switzerland | 7pm | ITV |
| Friday 2 December | Cameroon vs Brazil | 7pm | ITV |