This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.
Match of the Day hosts Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will be presenting on BBC television and radio across the World Cup 2026.
Here, they speak to Radio Times about covering the tournament from Salford, winner predictions and who they think could be lifting the trophy come 19 July.
Kelly Cates
What does the biggest-ever World Cup mean for viewers and listeners?
It means they’ll get so much more – more games, access to the players, the squads, the teams. We’ll be right in the middle of the camps, getting a real feel for it.
How are you preparing?
I have a giant stats pack. When the Premier League season finished I could clear out my brain and put new information in because there was room for the details to take hold.
You’ll be presenting the majority of TV coverage from an immersive studio in Salford, as happened with the Women’s Euros – how will you bring viewers a taste of the atmosphere from the 16 host cities?
My first match will be Scotland v Haiti. We’ll have Eilidh Barbour with the Scotland camp, bringing all the atmosphere from inside the stadium, giving that real fans’ perspective. The match is at 2am BST, with bars at home open late and a bank holiday in Scotland the next day. We can’t be in the bars having a few beers before we go on air! But we can get that sense of place and bring in some Irn-Bru and Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers for a sugar hit to peak at 2am.
Inevitably, detractors will respond to the immersive TV studio base in Salford by saying the BBC should be out there – what’s your response?
We’ll have great guests out there. We will feel like we’re at a World Cup, definitely.
You’re Glasgow-born – how momentous is all this for Scotland?
It’s 28 years since we last qualified, so it’s huge. Getting out of the group would make it Scotland’s most successful World Cup ever. But everyone still bears the scars of 1978 [when manager Ally MacLeod declared Scotland would win the World Cup and they were eliminated at the group stage] so we don’t want to get too carried away.
What are you earliest World Cup memories?
I wasn’t born in 1974, and can’t remember 1978. But I was six in 1982 and can remember little details – going out to Spain and collecting Coke and Fanta bottle caps with players’ faces on them. We were desperately trying to find the ones with players we loved – my brother Paul loved the Brazil player, Zico. I think I remember Scotland playing Brazil [4-1 to Brazil] but I can’t work out if it’s a false memory because I’ve seen it so many times.
Sixty years after 1966, is this England’s time?
There’s no reason why it can’t be. The biggest obstacle for everybody will be the conditions – altitude, heat, humidity, travel. It’s very unpredictable.
Is your ultimate nightmare for Scotland and England to meet during the knockout stage?
A dream! That would be amazing. Every gene in my body is Scottish so I want Scotland to win. But professionally, England doing well is fantastic.
Quickfire:
Who will win the World Cup?
Brazil, only because it’s in the Americas – I don’t think they’re the best team there.
Dark horse?
Scotland. If they reach the knockout games, with a nice run they’d get to the quarter-finals… [laughing] Anything can happen in cup football.
How far will England go?
The final. Let’s get everybody excited.
And Scotland’s chances, honestly?
Last 32. Or 16. Why not?
Key player for England?
The games could be quite tight and they need goals, so Harry Kane.
And Scotland?
Steve Clarke’s right-hand man Andy Robertson is huge in the dressing room, with all the experience of 92 caps.
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Mark Chapman
What does the biggest-ever World Cup mean for viewers and listeners?
More choice, more coverage, more different ways to access it. I haven’t really thought about it being the biggest, to be honest, but it’s an awful lot more football. The beauty of these World Cups is not actually the big teams but the other ones, who challenge you as a broadcaster, a journalist and a fan. So, I’ll be encompassing that, maximising my time in New York with some TV inserts, and then back here in the studio.
Detractors will respond to the immersive TV studio base in Salford by saying the BBC should be out there – what’s your response?
If we’d spent money to be in Times Square for seven weeks, I imagine those same detractors would have found something to else to say. We’ve plenty of people there. We’re in an era of tournaments that are spread across different countries and this isn’t going to go away. The 2030 World Cup will be across two continents [in Morocco, Portugal and Spain]. In Qatar four years ago, all the grounds were within 45 minutes of each other. We have to adapt.
It’s 60 years on from 1966 – is this England’s time?
They’re up there with maybe six to eight countries. The logistics of this tournament will play a part in who is successful, in my opinion.
It’s Scotland’s first time in the Finals in 28 years. How momentous is it?
I think they will get out of the group to the knockout stage. But it’s Morocco who fascinate me in that group because they had a very good World Cup last time [reaching the semi-finals]. So, while Brazil are the headliners, I think Morocco will be the interesting team.
Quickfire:
Who is going to win the World Cup?
France – they’ve got the strongest squad, although their group is very difficult with Senegal, Norway and Iraq.
Dark horse?
Morocco.
The team you’re most looking forward to seeing other than England or Scotland?
Recently I spoke with René Meulensteen, the assistant coach of Iraq – what they’ve had to go through to get to these Finals is fascinating.
How far will England go?
At least the quarter-finals.
And Scotland?
Last 16.
Key player for England?
Harry Kane, for the number of goals he scores and the fact that he’s captain.
And Scotland?
I’d go John McGinn after Aston Villa winning the Europa League.
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