**Steve Crossman** and **Guillem Balagué** on BBC Radio 5 Live: how to listen to FIFA World Cup 2026 in the UK
Match date:
If you are tuning into FIFA World Cup 2026 on BBC Radio 5 Live, the programme listed for 22 June 2026 at 20:00 UK time is available on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sounds app, with Steve Crossman presenting and Guillem Balagué providing punditry. BBC Radio 5 Live is part of BBC’s wider World Cup coverage, which also includes live commentary across all 104 matches and presentation from Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Steve Crossman across the tournament.[1]
For British listeners, the key advantage is that BBC Radio 5 Live is carrying extensive free-to-air coverage throughout the tournament, and the station’s World Cup output is built around regular live commentary, analysis and interviews. The broadcaster says its commentary team for the 2026 finals includes experienced voices such as John Murray, Ian Dennis, Alistair Bruce-Ball, Vicki Sparks and Jonathan Pearce, with co-commentators and analysts including Chris Sutton, Dion Dublin, Paul Robinson, Pat Nevin, Rachel Corsie and Conor Coady.[1]
Steve Crossman is one of BBC Sport’s best-known football presenters and a familiar voice on major BBC football coverage, while Guillem Balagué is widely recognised as a Spanish football journalist, author and analyst with long-standing expertise on European and international football. Their pairing gives this broadcast a blend of authoritative presentation and continental insight, which is particularly useful at a World Cup finals tournament where tactical nuance and national-team context matter.[1][3][4]
Listeners can access the coverage via BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app, so it is not limited to traditional radio sets.[1][9] That makes it straightforward to follow the game at home, at work or on the move, provided you have a BBC account where required.[1]
The 2026 tournament is being staged in North America, and BBC Radio 5 Live’s World Cup operation is described as an extensive summer project rather than a handful of marquee matches. According to FourFourTwo, the station will broadcast all 104 matches across the finals, underlining how central radio remains for many UK fans who want continuous live coverage alongside television coverage elsewhere.[1]
Guillem Balagué has also been active in BBC football output around the tournament, including discussion of Brazil’s squad and Carlo Ancelotti’s selection decisions, which suggests he is being used as a regular expert voice rather than a one-off guest.[3][4] That fits BBC Radio 5 Live’s style of combining live action with informed, current analysis from journalists and former players.
For readers looking to place this fixture in the wider tournament picture, the BBC’s own World Cup programme page shows how matches are being scheduled and presented on the network across the finals, reinforcing that this is part of a much broader live football service.[5]
Article generated: 22 June 2026, 20:01 GMT