The BBC recently announced an exciting development for football fans across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A new deal with UEFA will allow the broadcasting of 41 live World Cup qualifiers for the men’s teams of these nations. This includes not only the thrilling matches themselves but also friendlies and significant events like Scotland’s Nations League play-off with Greece later this month.
The 2026 World Cup, set to feature 48 teams, will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Scotland, the upcoming qualifiers hold particular significance, as the team last competed in the World Cup finals back in 1998. Similarly, Northern Ireland has not participated in the tournament since 1986, while Wales broke a 64-year dry spell by qualifying for the last finals held in Qatar in 2022.
This new broadcasting deal ensures that all home nations’ World Cup qualifiers will be available on free-to-air television, with ITV set to showcase England’s games. Rhodri Talfan Davies, the director of BBC Nations, expressed his excitement about the upcoming broadcasts, emphasizing the unique appeal of live international sports. In his words, “Nothing fires the imagination more than live international sport and the race to qualify for the world’s biggest tournament.”
A Closer Look at the Broadcast Schedule
The matches will be broadcast on BBC One in each nation and made available on BBC iPlayer. Additionally, key fixtures will be aired on network television throughout the UK. This comprehensive coverage extends beyond televised matches, as live international games are also accessible on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Cymru, and the BBC Sport app. Exciting Lineup of Live Games in March
As the anticipation builds, football enthusiasts can mark their calendars for a series of live games on the BBC in March. The schedule includes a range of thrilling matchups, such as the Nations League clash between Greece and Scotland on Thursday, 20 March, followed by Northern Ireland’s friendly against Switzerland on Friday, 21 March. The action continues with Wales facing Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, 22 March, and Scotland taking on Greece in the Nations League on Sunday, 23 March. The month wraps up with Northern Ireland’s friendly against Sweden and Wales’ World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia on Tuesday, 25 March.
As the anticipation builds, football enthusiasts can mark their calendars for a series of live games on the BBC in March. The schedule includes a range of thrilling matchups, such as the Nations League clash between Greece and Scotland on Thursday, 20 March, followed by Northern Ireland’s friendly against Switzerland on Friday, 21 March. The action continues with Wales facing Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, 22 March, and Scotland taking on Greece in the Nations League on Sunday, 23 March. The month wraps up with Northern Ireland’s friendly against Sweden and Wales’ World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia on Tuesday, 25 March.
With the promise of high-stakes competitions and intense rivalries, the live coverage of World Cup qualifiers on the BBC is sure to captivate football fans across the UK. As the teams battle it out on the field, viewers can immerse themselves in the excitement and drama of international football, experiencing the thrill of the game from the comfort of their own homes. So, grab your snacks, settle in front of the TV, and get ready for a front-row seat to the action-packed journey towards the World Cup.
