BBC & ITV confirm 2014 World Cup match split

The BBC and ITV have confirmed which games they will be screening live as part of their shared coverage of next summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

ITV will show the opening match of the tournament between hosts Brazil and Croatia on June 12, while the BBC begins its live coverage with the defending champions Spain against the Netherlands, in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final, on June 13.

As in the last two World Cups in Germany and South Africa, two of England’s three group games will be broadcast exclusively live on ITV.

The BBC will show England’s first group match against Italy as Roy Hodgson’s side kick off their campaign in the Amazonian city of Manaus.

ITV will then show England’s next two games against Uruguay on June 19 and the potentially decisive final group game against Costa Rica on June 24.

Into the knockout phase, the BBC will have first pick of the last 16 and semi finals clashes, while ITV has first pick of the quarter finals.

Both broadcasters will screen live coverage of the final on July 13.

ITV, which had first pick of England’s games for this tournament under an agreement between the two channels, has opted to secure two of England’s group games to ensure bumper audiences for advertisers, bearing in mind the potential difficulty of Roy Hodgson’s team making it into the knockout phase due to their tough group.

Despite the late kick-off time of 11.00pm, England’s clash with Italy is still likely to attract a sizable audience for the BBC as it will be held on a Saturday night, while the corporation also has other blue-riband matches including Spain against the Netherlands, plus first pick of the semi-finals.

Should England progress into the knockout stages, the BBC will choose to screen the Three Lions’ last 16 clash exclusively live for the third World Cup running, though a potential quarter-final encounter would be shown by ITV.

The BBC have appeared to play safe in its match choices in the knockout stages by choosing England’s possible last 16 clash, against possibly Greece or Colombia, in preference to a potential mouthwatering clash between England and hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals.

If that scenario materialises, the clash will be ITV’s most lucrative football match in its history and could possibly surpass the 24m audience figure it achieved for the England v Argentina encounter at in the 1998 World Cup in France.

The BBC and ITV’s agreement of live match choices comes just four days after the group stage draw was made in Brazil. This is in contrast to the 2010 tournament when both channels were unable to agree on how they would divide the games up until March.

Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport, commented: “The World Cup in Brazil promises to be truly memorable.

“We’re very pleased with our selection of matches which includes England’s highly anticipated opening match with Italy along with their crucial first knock out match, if they proceed, and the first pick of the semi finals.

“We also have some extremely appetising peak time group games including Spain v Holland, Spain v Chile, Brazil v Mexico and Germany v Ghana.

“The BBC is delighted to be showing this great selection of games and our audiences will be able to join in not only live on BBC One but on radio and online where our extensive coverage will deliver the first truly digital World Cup.”

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “The World Cup begins on ITV for UK viewers next year and we’re looking forward to showing live two of England’s three group matches as well as two of Brazil’s, including the tournament’s opening game between the hosts and Croatia in Sao Paulo.

“We will also broadcast the key match between England’s group D rivals Italy and Uruguay, which could have a huge bearing on their chances of reaching the knock-out phase.

“In addition, ITV will have first pick of the quarter-final matches as Brazil 2014 builds towards its climax.

“Viewers will be able to watch all matches live online on itv.com which will also host a dedicated World Cup site offering comprehensive coverage in the build up to and throughout what promises to be a special tournament in this most iconic of football countries.”

The BBC will base its Match of the Day presentation team, led by Gary Lineker, in Rio de Janeiro for the tournament, while ITV are also expected to present its coverage on-location in Brazil.

Full details of the BBC and ITV’s division of live 2014 World Cup matches below:

JUNE 12 – JULY 13

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

Brazil

THURSDAY 12th JUNE

BRAZIL v CROATIA

Group A – Sao Paulo

21:00

FRIDAY 13th JUNE

MEXICO v CAMEROON

Group A – Natal