Match of the Day will welcome four new pundits for the 2026-27 men's football season, with former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank joining ex-players Toby Alderweireld, Robbie Keane and Ashley Young in the studio. Alongside the new faces, the broadcaster's football coverage will expand into digital territory with four new YouTube formats launching under a dedicated BBC Football channel.
Who are the new pundits and what shows are launching?
Frank, who took charge of Brentford and later Tottenham before appearing as an analyst during the broadcaster's coverage of the summer's World Cup, joins Alderweireld, Keane and Young as the latest additions to the Match of the Day pundit line-up. The new YouTube channel will host four fresh formats aimed at younger and more fan-driven audiences: FANS², The Truth About Football, Golden Goal and Football Hub.
How will fans be involved this season?
A new Fan Collective will bring together supporters representing all 20 Premier League clubs, reflecting a deliberate push to put audience voices closer to the coverage itself. BBC director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski explained the thinking behind the changes:
"Football means something different to every fan, and this season is putting those fans even more firmly at the heart of the game."
"We're bringing together the unrivalled expertise of former players and managers with the passion, personality and perspectives of supporters to create a richer football experience wherever and however audiences follow the game."
What else can viewers and listeners follow this season?
BBC Radio 5 Live will carry live commentary of 209 Premier League fixtures across the season, alongside coverage of the Champions League, Scottish Premiership, FA Cup, men's League Cup and international matches. Beyond Match of the Day's Premier League highlights, the broadcaster will show two matches from every round of the FA Cup and one Bundesliga fixture a week on its streaming platform, website and app.
Additional highlights and clips will be available from La Liga, Serie A, the Europa League, and international fixtures involving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Kelly Somer's The Football Interview continues on the broadcaster's streaming service, the new Football YouTube channel and the website and app, as well as airing on BBC One every Saturday at 12:45 BST.
What is happening in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Viewers in Scotland will be able to watch every Scotland men's international fixture live, along with selected Scottish Cup ties including the final, plus highlights of all Premiership matches on Sportscene. Live commentary of Scottish Premiership games, Scottish and League Cup ties, and all Scotland men's internationals will also be carried on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.
In Wales, selected matches from the Novira Cymru Premier will be streamed, while Wales men's international fixtures will be shown live across BBC Wales, BBC Two, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. This builds on an existing arrangement between BBC Cymru Wales and the Football Association of Wales, under which a three-year deal to broadcast at least 20 live Cymru Premier matches per season began with Barry Town United's meeting with Cardiff Metropolitan University on 15 August 2026.
NI has agreed a new three-year broadcast partnership with the Irish Football Association and the Northern Ireland Football League, guaranteeing extensive free-to-air coverage of international and domestic football across streaming, online, radio and television platforms. Under the deal, every Northern Ireland senior men's international will be broadcast until June 2028.
How does this connect to the broadcaster's World Cup coverage?
The push into digital and fan-focused football content follows the broadcaster's earlier announcement of comprehensive plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which included coverage of all 104 matches with extensive television and digital output, expert analysis and a particular focus on Scotland's return to the tournament. After the tournament concluded, the broadcaster thanked audiences for record engagement across television, streaming, radio and digital platforms during the World Cup.
According to the broadcaster's own coverage announcement, the new Football YouTube channel will also be used for World Cup 2026 content, including highlights of all 104 matches, selected build-up coverage and the first ten minutes of certain games streamed live on YouTube and TikTok, according to a report.
What is changing in the broadcaster's digital output?
The new season's line-up includes a digital-first revival of Football Focus, according to the corporation's media centre, after the long-running television programme was discontinued earlier in the year in favour of expanded online and YouTube output. A new Shorts tab has also been added to the app as a weekly video hub carrying club-specific explainers, pundit analysis, interviews and behind-the-scenes clips, according to a broadcaster report on the new app feature.
What happens next?
The first new-season edition of The Football Interview is scheduled to air on Saturday 22 August 2026 and will feature James Maddison, according to the broadcaster's season announcement. World Cup highlights will also continue to appear on the broadcaster's digital channels throughout the tournament, with selected live build-up content available alongside the archive of match highlights, per the same source.
Key Facts
- Thomas Frank, Toby Alderweireld, Robbie Keane and Ashley Young join Match of the Day as new pundits for 2026-27.
- Four new YouTube formats — FANS², The Truth About Football, Golden Goal and Football Hub — launch on a dedicated BBC Football channel.
- BBC Radio 5 Live will broadcast 209 Premier League matches this season, plus Champions League, FA Cup and international coverage.
- Northern Ireland's senior men's internationals will be broadcast free-to-air until June 2028 under a new three-year deal.
- The Football Interview's new-season opener, featuring James Maddison, is set for Saturday 22 August 2026.
