BBC to Broadcast All 16 World Cup Last-32 Ties Live

The BBC will provide comprehensive coverage of the World Cup knockout stages, broadcasting all 16 ties in the last-32 round across its platforms. This includes England’s upcoming fixture against DR Congo, which will be aired live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

England secured their place in the round of 32 as group winners, setting up a clash with DR Congo, who are making their debut in the World Cup knockout stages. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, with a kick-off time of 17:00 BST. DR Congo reached this stage after drawing with Portugal and defeating Uzbekistan 3-1.

Por que importa

The BBC’s coverage extends to other significant matches, including Spain’s encounter with Austria on Thursday (20:00 BST). This game holds historical weight for Spain, as they aim to win a World Cup knockout match for the first time since their 2010 tournament victory.

Another highly anticipated fixture will see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal face Luka Modric’s Croatia on Friday (00:00 BST). With both Ballon d’Or winners approaching 41 years of age, this match could mark a significant moment in the careers of one or both legendary players, potentially their final World Cup appearance.

Fans can also look forward to live broadcasts of Germany versus Paraguay on Monday (21:30 BST), Mohamed Salah’s Egypt against Australia on Friday (19:00 BST), and Erling Haaland’s Norway taking on Ivory Coast on Tuesday (18:00 BST). Additionally, tournament co-hosts United States will play Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday (01:00 BST), and Switzerland will face Algeria on Friday (04:00 BST), with both games available live on BBC One.

The BBC and ITV will each broadcast eight of the last-32 matches. For those unable to watch on television, live radio commentary for every match will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Comprehensive live text coverage and expert analysis will also be provided on the BBC Sport website and app.

To cater to fans who may miss live games, spoiler-free highlights will be accessible each morning on iPlayer, the BBC Sport app, and the BBC Football YouTube channel. The BBC Sport website and app will also feature a new interactive 3D experience for all live BBC TV matches, with a replay mode available for matches broadcast by ITV.

Key facts
| Match Detail | Date & Time (BST) | Broadcaster |
|—|—|—|
| England vs. DR Congo | Wednesday, 17:00 | BBC One, BBC iPlayer |
| Spain vs. Austria | Thursday, 20:00 | BBC |
| Portugal vs. Croatia | Friday, 00:00 | BBC |
| Germany vs. Paraguay | Monday, 21:30 | BBC One |

The extensive broadcast schedule by the BBC ensures that fans across the UK have ample opportunity to follow the drama and excitement of the World Cup knockout stages, regardless of their preferred viewing method. The availability of live radio commentary and online highlights further enhances accessibility for a wide audience.

Source: BBC Sport, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3vy1ynv34ko

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