Ghana v Panama commentary team confirmed for BBC Radio 5 Live, ITV and world feed coverage

Match date: 17 June 2026

Ghana v Panama at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available to listen to in the UK on BBC Radio 5 Live, via the BBC Sounds app and on BBC Sport Online as audio commentary, with Jonathan Pearce and Efan Ekoku on the main BBC call. BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC’s long-running live football network, and its World Cup coverage regularly brings together experienced presenters, reporters and commentators for major tournaments.[2][3][5]

The match is scheduled for 18 June 2026 at 00:00 UK time, which means British listeners will be tuning in just after midnight for a live World Cup fixture from Toronto Stadium in Canada.[1][3] ESPN’s match listing also confirms the kick-off time for the UK and notes that the game will be shown on ITV in the UK, with Fox Sports carrying coverage in the United States.[1]

For viewers wanting television-style coverage in Britain, ITV has the match among its World Cup output, with Jon Champion and Ally McCoist listed for highlights, while the main ITVX/ITV1 coverage brings Mark Pougatch to the presenting desk alongside the same commentary pairing and studio pundits Emma Hayes and Jobi McAnuff. Pougatch has become one of British football broadcasting’s most recognisable hosts through his long association with ITV and major international tournaments, while Champion and McCoist are a well-established commentary duo known for combining sharp game reading with dry humour and clear analysis.

On the BBC side, Jonathan Pearce remains a familiar voice to football fans after a long broadcasting career spanning television and radio, while Efan Ekoku brings Premier League and international experience as a former striker turned pundit and co-commentator. That pairing should suit a match that could hinge on tactical discipline, with Ghana likely to provide athletic threat and Panama looking to stay compact and exploit transitions.

Outside the UK, the match will be available on FOX ONE, Fox Sports 1 and the Fox Sports app in the US, with JP Dellacamera leading commentary alongside Lori Lindsey and former official Joe Machnik. Dellacamera is one of American soccer’s most experienced broadcasters, having covered multiple World Cups, while Lindsey adds recent professional playing and analytical insight. The broader world feed, led by David Stowell with Craig Forrest, is also being used by several international broadcasters, including RTÉ 2 in Ireland and beIN Sports MENA Max 5, which is presenting the match with Aarran Summers fronting studio coverage and pundits Christopher Sullivan, Nicky Summerbee and Didier Domi.

For radio listeners, talkSPORT 2 and the talkSPORT app will carry coverage with Mike Sewell and Darren Ambrose, while Sporty TV Africa’s YouTube coverage features Kieran Burke. In Israel, Kan 11 and Sport 1 are scheduled to carry the game with Shimi Shasson on commentary, underlining the global reach of a fixture that will be followed across radio, streaming and broadcast platforms worldwide.

British fans looking for live audio can also use the BBC Sounds route, which is especially handy for a midnight kick-off and remains one of the simplest ways to follow World Cup football on the move. With multiple broadcasters using the same match feed or their own commentary teams, Ghana v Panama should offer a clear choice for viewers and listeners depending on whether they want the BBC’s radio style, ITV’s television presentation or international coverage with different voices and analysis.

More on the tournament can be found via the FIFA World Cup competition page.

Article generated: 18 June 2026, 00:00 GMT