BBC confirm pundit line-up for World Cup including Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker

The BBC have announced their punditry team for this year's World Cup - with several football icons set to be involved in their coverage.

Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand, Micah Richards, Jurgen Klinsmann and Laura Georges are among the big names joining lead host Gary Lineker in Qatar. The BBC will show live coverage of the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday, November 20.

Lineker's co-hosts for the World Cup are Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates. Other pundits include Pablo Zabaleta, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Danny Gabbidon, Ian Rush, Ashley Williams, Vincent Kompany, Didier Drogba, Mark Schwarzer and Gilberto Silva.

The BBC will be covering the tournament across multiple platforms - including radio and online - and share the UK TV rights with ITV. The BBC will broadcast 33 games, with both main broadcasters showing live coverage of the final on December 18.

While Lineker and Logan will front the BBC's TV coverage, Chapman and Cates will lead their radio efforts. Radio pundits include Karen Bardsley, Izzy Christiansen, James Collins, Dion Dublin, Rob Green, Jayne Ludlow, Pat Nevin, Chris Sutton and Matthew Upson.

The BBC have also confirmed their commentary team of Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Steve Bower, Robyn Cowen, Alistair Bruce Ball, Simon Davies, Ian Dennis, Pien Meulensteen, Conor McNamara, John Murray, Mark Scott and Vicki Sparks.

The likes of Maz Farookhi, Martin Keown, Clinton Morrison, Danny Murphy, Robbie Savage, Peter Schmeichel and Stephen Warnock will providing co-commentary. Kelly Somers and Emma Saunders, meanwhile, will provide reports from the England camp.

"For Qatar 2022, the BBC will unite across TV, radio and online to deliver our most comprehensive and holistic World Cup offering yet," said Barbara Slater, the director of BBC Sport. "England's opener, Wales' key game against Iran and the huge home nations clash between Wales and England are all exclusively live on the BBC.

"Our non-stop coverage and content will be brought to viewers and listeners by an unrivalled squad of the best presenters, ex-players and experts. Together, they will offer all football fans the very best insight, commentary, analysis and entertainment."

The BBC announced their World Cup punditry team eight days after rivals ITV. The likes of Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Joe Cole, Eni Aluko, Nigel De Jong, Nadia Nadim and Hal Robson-Kanu will appear on ITV's coverage.

ITV's lead presenters for the tournament are Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods and Seema Jaswal, with Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Jon Champion, Seb Hutchinson, Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist, John Hartson and Andros, Townsend lending their voice on commentary.

"The World Cup is the biggest sporting event of the year and ITV are committed to bring viewers the very best extensive coverage of the tournament accompanied by expert punditry and analysis," said Niall Sloane, ITV's director of sport. "We will immerse viewers into the tournament with our live coverage, highlight shows, podcasts, online and social media content, ensuring viewers do not miss a minute of the action."

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