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BBC and ITV 'make diabolical World Cup highlights error' as fans fume at TV coverage

BBC and ITV have been slammed for their diabolical decision not to air World Cup highlights on TV in the morning despite nightmare overnight kick-off times in the UK

[ITV and BBC are not producing a morning World Cup highlights show for TV viewers]

ITV and BBC are not producing a morning World Cup highlights show for TV viewers

BBC and ITV have both been slammed for their decision not to air World Cup highlights on TV, despite kick-off times being mainly throughout the night in the UK.

The World Cup in North America kicks off today with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in a repeat of the iconic 2010 opening match. That game in Mexico City will kick-off at 8pm in the UK; a respectable time considering local time kick-off is 1pm early for an opening tournament game.

However, the second game of the tournament between South Korea and the Czech Republic will be played at 3am BST on Friday morning, when most of the football fans this side of the Atlantic are fast asleep.

[Harry Kane]

World Cup highlights will not be aired on TV(Image: The FA via Getty Images)

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Hardly anyone with a job - and it could be argued in their right mind - will be staying up to watch the second game in Group A, but the only chance to see the game on telly will be for fans who watch it, with no highlights program to be aired on TV the following morning by either of the broadcasters.

This will be the case throughout the tournament, despite all the fixtures scheduled between midnight and 5am. Highlights will be available to watch online across multiple platforms from BBC and ITV, including on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, ITVX and the ITV website.

ITV said: "Live games and highlights will be broadcast on ITV and ITVX providing comprehensive coverage and content across ITV Footballs social platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, ensuring fans will not miss a single minute of the action.

"'Inside The World Cup' is a new digital series available on X and ITVX that offers an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the FIFA World Cup, following England and other competing nations throughout the tournament. It combines exclusive in-camp interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and raw match day coverage.

"ITVX will bring a comprehensive package of World Cup coverage and football highlights to quench the appetite of the biggest football fans.

"ITVX will provide full video on demand of all ITV matches, highlights of all matches across ITV and BBC, and a rail of constantly-updating short-form content including camp reports, big moments and interviews. ITVX will also feature World Cup: Full Time, featuring the best of Daniyals reports and creator-led content direct from the streets of NYC."

However, fans hoping to avoid finding out the scores who simply want to wake up and watch an easily digestible Match of the Day style programme from the comfort of their sofa have been left fuming.

One fan ranted on social media: Have I got this right? The #BBC and #ITV dont have a morning or afternoon #MOTD style highlights show of #FIFA #WorldCup games weve missed through the night? Diabolical.

[Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney]

Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney will be among the BBC pundits at the World Cup(Image: BBC)

A second said: I was expecting BBC and ITV to have daily morning highlights shows but it seems not. So if I want to wake up and watch highlights of the overnight matches without knowing the scores what do I do please?

Another said: "It's such a missed opportunity from BBC and ITV. I don't want to have to search for highlights and find out the scores on video titles and thumbnails."

BBC and ITV have both been contacted for comment.

On Saturday June 13, Brazil start their World Cup campaign against Morocco at 11pm BST, Scotland then play Haiti at the ridiculous hour of 2am before Australia face Turkey at 5am.

Englands first World Cup game against Croatia on June 17 kicks off at 9pm, with the second group game against Ghana the following Tuesday also a 9pm start. However, the final group game against Panama kicks off at 10pm.

The Three Lions also face the risk of playing their knockout games in the early hours of the morning if they fail to top the group.

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