BBC World News and BBC.com will bring football’s greatest tournament to tens of millions of fans this summer with a top cast of commentators and reporters on location at the FIFA World Cup 2018, providing all the latest news and results, expert analysis and interactive features.
The best players from across the globe will descend on Russia from June 14 to July 15, with on-the-ground BBC coverage available across any device, at any time. In addition, this year a Fan Network of supporters representing all 32 competing nations will interact with presenters and contribute across social media platforms, giving us their unique global take on the World Cup.
On BBC World News, a series of programmes will deliver first-class analysis, insight and commentary:
· Football Focus Special will be presented by regular Football Focus host Dan Walker and Alex Scott, former Arsenal captain and ex-England international, from the BBC studio in Red Square, Moscow. Join the fun and excitement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia for 10 special programmes, starting at 12:30 GMT on Thursday 14 June, with a mixture of match analysis, fan reaction as well as player and team profiles. Alex Scott will also host a series of Instagram stories ensuring audiences never miss a moment of what’s happening both on and off the pitch.
Dan Walker says: “Every four years, those of us who love football – and a few who don’t – get excited about the World Cup. Thirty-two teams and the very best players on the globe descend on a country and this time it’s Russia. It is wonderful to think that for about a month people all over the world will be watching Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, Suarez, Neymar, Kroos, Iniesta, Pogba and Kane all in the same place day after day. Whatever happens, we’d be delighted if you joined us for the journey from June 14th with our Football Focus Specials on BBC World News throughout the tournament. See you in Russia.”
Alex Scott says: “I’m looking forward to being part of my first men’s World Cup with the BBC, having only ever watched previous tournaments from back home. Getting to work and take in the games along with the atmosphere in Russia is going to be incredible. Football Focus Special is going to be a great show to work on broadcasting from Moscow alongside Dan Walker. It will be brilliant to watch the tournament unfold and hear from fans all over the world.”
· Soccer Stories discovers the personal stories behind some of the World Cup’s biggest stars. The programme will travel around the world to uncover the football beginnings of this summer’s key players. Featuring interviews with the family, friends and coaches who know them best, tracing back to their roots and their early days as promising talents, this series looks at those players who continue to be the most talked about on the planet. In the first programme, we’ve travelled to France to the home town of Manchester United and France legend Paul Pogba to talk to the people who grew up with Paul at his first club. We’ve also gone back to the Essex roots of Tottenham striker Harry Kane, on whose shoulders rest the expectations of the English supporters. The second programme looks at Kevin De Bruyne’s early days as a young footballer in Belgium and tells the story of Uruguay’s star striker Luis Suarez. Soccer Stories will air on BBC World News at 01:30 and 08:30 GMT on Saturday 2 June and Saturday 9 June, at 14:30 and 20:30 GMT on Sundays 3 June and Sunday 10 June, and at 09:30 GMT on Tuesday 5 June and Tuesday 12 June.
· Sport Today will be on location in Russia with reporters from both the UK and the Moscow bureau bringing audiences a wealth of coverage. This will include live reporting capturing the latest news, results and atmosphere, and interviews and analysis with pundits and former players, with a range of global perspectives to cover the fortunes of all nations in the competition. Sport Today will air on BBC World News at 19:30 GMT Monday to Thursday, at 18:30 GMT on Fridays, at 11:15, 13:15 and 18:15 GMT on Saturdays and 13:15 and 1815 GMT on Sundays.
BBC.com
BBC.com will provide breaking news, interactive features and a wealth of digital content. Fans can share in all the excitement at BBC.com/worldcup, through the BBC Sport website and app for mobiles and tablets, from catching up on the day’s events and joining in the match-day build-up to following the live text commentary.
Highlights include:
• Team Selector tool allowing fans to have a go at picking that all-important starting XI and compare and share their team selections via social media
• The World Cup 2018 Player Rater which lets fans rate all players out of 10, share ratings with friends and see what the rest of the world thinks
• Analysis with a mixture of text and pundit videos
• Preview and post-match reports on every game
• Team guides and profiles of players to watch, manager biographies, fixtures and line-up graphics
• Columns from a world football star
• Stadium guides
• Results service with an interactive table with fixtures and results