ITV to show England men’s football games, with Channel 4 to lose broadcasting rights

ITV has secured exclusive coverage of all England men’s football matches outside major tournament finals from September 2024 through to June 2028 in a new deal with UEFA, with Channel 4 to lose TV rights. 

The UK broadcaster is to air England’s qualifying games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in North America and UEFA EURO 2028, along with England matches in the UEFA Nations League and all England friendlies.

Channel 4 currently has the broadcasting rights to show England’s matches in the UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers to UEFA EURO 2024 and International Friendlies, following a deal in 2022.

ITV had previously held the rights for England European Qualifiers from 2018 until 2022, prior to Channel 4. Starting from September 2024, programming on the UK broadcaster will include all 40 home and away games — approximately ten each season.

The pubcaster holds the rights to show both UEFA EURO 2024 and UEFA EURO 2028, sharing coverage with the BBC. The PSBs divided coverage of the recently-concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup and last year’s Qatar FIFA World Cup. ITV also holds the broadcasting rights for England Women’s football team matches until 2025 and shared rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said: “We’re delighted to bring the England men’s team back to ITV, which keeps coverage of their progress between major tournaments on free to air television.  We have an experienced team here who are looking forward to bringing viewers all the action and insight from England’s qualification campaigns in the coming years.”

This new deal adds to ITV Sport’s growing portfolio of sport events, which also includes Six Nations rugby, the Rugby World Cup, England Women’s qualifiers and friendlies, UEFA EURO 2024, the FA Cup, EFL highlights including the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One, Sky Bet League Two, Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy, La Liga, the Tour de France, the NFL, Investec Champions Cup, Gallagher Premiership Rugby and, in motorsport, Extreme E, plus British Touring Car Championships and MotoGP, SailGP, as well as major competitions in snooker and darts.