Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIt crossed my mind, ever so briefly, that I might be spending my Sunday evening watching England in the final of the World Cup.Wednesdays semi-final was already into the last 10 minutes and England were about to reap the rewards of freezing in the headlights of Argentina. They were still 1-0 to the good when the daydream was pushed from my brain by the realisation that England werent just going to concede they werent going to make it as far as extra time.So brief was the moment in which I dared to believe that Ill be tucking into my Sunday dinner of football with the same enthusiasm as I would have if England had been knocked out weeks ago.Play our free match predictor and win �1kITV and BBC are sharing the World Cup Final and Ill be watching bothChoosing which channel to watch for the most important game in football is usually an easy decision.For better or worse, I simply prefer my television coverage without advertising. There are lots of reasons for that but lets say for now that its primarily about the interrupted flow of ITVs presentation. You may like BBC make shock decision in their World Cup coverage Ranking BBC and ITV's World Cup 2026 commentators Who are the BBC pundits, commentators and presenters for England vs Argentina? Consequently, BBC Sport has been my selection for one World Cup after another, for as long as I can remember.Truth be told, I dont remember ITVs meme-ready World Cup foibles all that well. The pub where I watched England vs United States in 2010 didnt have ITV HD, so I didnt even miss Steven Gerrards goal.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Its different this year. ITVs coverage was preferable from the off, not so much because they were on the ground in Brooklyn while the BBC stayed home, but because of the knock-on effects of that fact on their respective presentations.Theres more to it than location. ITV Sport has been pilloried over the years, often without any real justification, but the vast majority of the matches theyve covered at World Cup 2026 have been part of coverage worth tuning into in its own right.ITVs coverage gathered steam in the depths of the group stage, where hardened viewers and their messed-up body clocks were treated to the tactical interludes of USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. As she found her groove, so ITV edged further ahead of their rivals. What to read next How to watch England vs Argentina for FREE Who are the ITV pundits, commentators and presenters for France vs Spain? Where is ITV World Cup studio? Outrageous first look leaves BBC blushing They handpicked their studio pundits perfectly. Patrick Vieira, Juan Mata and the eminently listenable Ange Postecoglou and Duncan Ferguson have been laced through ITVs match coverage.Jobi McAnuff and Bradley Wright-Phillips have brought good stuff to the screen, a mainstream promotion for McAnuff and an unexpectedly positive introduction from the former New York Red Bulls striker.But its the big hitters, the quartet lined up for Sundays final, that elevate the aggregate beyond the BBCs studio offering.Change the channel! Change the channel!Id be lying if I said I much cared which presenter is in the big chair BBCs anchors are tremendous broadcasters but Mark Pougatch will be chatting with Karen Carney, Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright on Sunday, and thats a combination that caters to my tastes better than the trio joining Gabby Logan on BBC One.The BBC panel has lots to offer but its ITV serving up the punditry crew I want talking me through the pre-match on Sunday night.I like their insight, their chemistry, their rhythm, but I think the big difference, over and above personality, is the sense of ease among an ITV group that speak with depth but in a way that makes me feel as if Im sitting up there with them.Yet as soon as BBCs mics are closed on Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Micah Richards and the show is handed over to the commentary team, Ill be dropping down a couple of channels to join Guy Mowbray and Alan Shearer.As excellent as ITVs coverage has been this summer, my preference for Carney and Keane over Rooney and Richards is nowhere near powerful enough to watch the World Cup Final with Sam Matterface, the top-ranking commentator in ITVs inexplicably upside-down pecking order, and co-commentator Lee Dixon.Theyll be joined by the rather more excitable Ally McCoist on Sunday but we all have our limits. In fairness, Shearer has matured into an exceptional pundit and co-commentator anyway and I really like Gladiators.Just like the studio choice, my commentary decision is no contest. ITV might be the better represented in the pick n mix cup of my 104-match World Cup television viewing, but Ill still be digging into the old favourites come kick-off time.TOPICSIan WrightKaren CarneyAlan ShearerLee DixonGary NevilleRoy KeaneMicah RichardsJoe HartWayne RooneySpainEnglandArgentinaWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
