BBC Radio 5 Live to cover England v Ukraine as Lionesses continue World Cup qualifying bid

Match date: 9 June 2026

England v Ukraine in the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers will be available for UK listeners on BBC Radio 5 Live, via the BBC Sounds app and BBC Sport Online audio coverage, with the match also listed on ITV platforms for highlights and digital coverage, plus talkSPORT reporting. The qualifier is scheduled for 9 June 2026 at 20:00 UK time, and England are listed as playing Ukraine at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.[1][5]

Steve Crossman leads the BBC Radio 5 Live coverage as presenter, with Flo Pollock on main commentary and former England defender Lindsay Johnson as co-commentator. The BBC team also includes Jorge Campos as pundit, while John Murray, Dan Roan, Eilidh Barbour and Ian Dennis are named as reporters across the broadcast offering.[3]

Crossman is a familiar BBC football voice, widely associated with major live sport coverage, while Johnson brings the perspective of a long-serving former England international who was part of the national-team setup and later moved into media analysis. Pollock has also been used on BBC football commentary duties, reflecting the broadcaster’s growing use of specialist women’s football coverage voices in major tournament and qualifier broadcasts.[3]

On ITV, the highlights package is set to feature Ellen Ellard on commentary with Lucy Ward alongside her as co-commentator, and Beth Fisher reporting. The wider ITV coverage list also includes ITVX, ITV1, HD, STV and STV Player, with Katie Shanahan named as reporter and Anita Asante plus Fran Kirby listed among the pundits.[3]

Lucy Ward is a well-known broadcaster and former striker who has established herself as one of the most recognisable women’s football analysts in UK television and radio. Anita Asante brings elite international experience from her England career and extensive club success, while Fran Kirby offers an especially current playing perspective as one of England’s leading attacking talents. That mix should give ITV’s coverage a balance of tactical analysis, dressing-room insight and recent international experience.

For listeners following the game on local and alternative audio output, BBC Radio Merseyside has Giulia Bould listed as reporter, while talkSPORT coverage includes Matt Jones as reporter. The BBC’s wider match-day audio line-up also suggests a substantial national broadcast push, underlining the importance of the fixture in England’s qualifying campaign.[3]

England’s qualifying position is strong heading into the fixture, with ESPN’s match listing showing the Lionesses on 12 points from four wins and Ukraine on zero points from four matches. That form makes England clear favourites, but qualifiers at this stage still matter for rhythm, squad rotation and momentum ahead of the 2027 tournament cycle.[1]

Fans wanting official team and match information can also follow England Football’s match centre for the fixture, which confirms the competition, kick-off time and venue details for this World Cup Qualifier.England Football match centre

Article generated: 9 June 2026, 20:04 GMT