ITV’s coverage of the opening night of the 2026 World Cup drew criticism from viewers after the broadcaster included surprise guest Adam Richman in its punditry lineup. The tournament began on Thursday at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, where hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a dramatic contest that also saw three red cards handed out. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored for Mexico, while Yaya Sithole, Themba Zwane and Cesar Montes were all sent off in a tense finish. Despite the significance of the match, much of the online reaction focused on ITV’s studio presentation rather than the football itself.
Alongside familiar ITV analysts Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane, the channel introduced former Man v Food host Adam Richman as part of its World Cup coverage. The decision surprised many viewers, and social media quickly filled with complaints. Some fans said Richman’s appearance felt out of place for football coverage and called for ITV to remove the segment. Others criticised the format more broadly, questioning why the broadcaster had chosen to place him alongside sports presenters in a major tournament broadcast.
The reaction was sharpened by an on-air mistake from ITV presenter Semra Hunter, who appeared to confuse former Chelsea manager Graham Potter with Gareth Southgate. The error was quickly noticed by viewers and sparked further backlash online, with several posts mocking the presentation and asking why such basic football references were being mishandled during a World Cup broadcast. The combination of the surprise guest and the on-air slip turned ITV’s opening-night coverage into a talking point for reasons unrelated to the action on the pitch.
ITV has positioned its World Cup operation as a major, high-profile production, broadcasting from a studio in New York City and promising extensive free-to-air coverage across ITV, ITVX, its dedicated World Cup channel and digital platforms. The broadcaster has said the setup is designed to bring every key moment of the tournament to viewers across the UK. By contrast, the BBC has opted to remain at home for the early stages of the competition before travelling to the United States for the knockout rounds.
The broadcaster’s leadership previously described the 2026 World Cup as the biggest in FIFA history and said ITV would be live from New York for the duration of the tournament. However, the first night suggested that presentation choices may become a major point of debate as the competition progresses. While England and the rest of the tournament are expected to draw huge audiences, ITV’s decision to mix traditional punditry with a non-football guest was met with immediate resistance from a section of viewers who want a more conventional sports analysis format.
For now, the football itself delivered a lively start to the tournament, with Mexico opening with a win and South Africa finishing the match with nine players. Yet ITV’s studio selection and presenting errors ensured that the opening night of the 2026 World Cup was remembered almost as much for controversy in the commentary box as for the action on the field.
