The BBC, the UK's public-service broadcaster, has extended its rights deal covering packages of men's international soccer fixtures played by Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
A deal ensuring that all of the games those sides play in UEFA (European) competitions will continue to be shown live and free-to-air in the UK, was unveiled yesterday, and runs through June, 2028.
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The original tie-up covering these games, between the BBC and UEFA, was announced last March, and marked the first time the public-service broadcaster had brought in live rights for all three of the UK's devolved nations.
In total, the agreement covers roughly 60 games over the next two years, including Nations League fixtures played by the trio later in 2026, as well as qualifiers coming up for the 2028 UEFA European Championships (which will take place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland).
The games will continue to be aired on all of the BBC's various platforms – across linear TV, the iPlayer streaming service, and the BBC Sounds audio hub.
Before the BBC stepped in last March, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales had all been without a permanent long-term broadcast deal after embattled broadcaster Viaplay withdrew from the UK market in 2024, having acquired the rights to those teams’ games for the 2024-28 cycle back in 2022.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of sport at the BBC, commented: "International football creates moments that unite communities, sparks national pride, and generates huge audiences across every platform. Audiences can be sure the BBC will be there for every crucial moment on the road to UEFA Euro 2028."
That tournament itself will take place across nine UK and Republic of Ireland stadiums, and will also be partly shown by the BBC, alongside commercial FTA network ITV. However, the home nations involved will not qualify automatically and will need to go through the same process as all other European sides.
Both the BBC and ITV are currently airing the 2026 FIFA World Cup (taking place across Mexico, the US, and Canada), at which Scotland is taking part.
Domestic rights to England's qualifiers and Nations League games, meanwhile, are exclusively held by ITV in a deal also running through June, 2028.
Over the last few months, the BBC has secured significant audiences for Home Nations qualifying fixtures – for Scotland's 4-2 win over Denmark, which secured their spot at the World Cup, the broadcaster brought in an audience of 1.1 million in Scotland itself, and an average viewing figure of 2.7 million across the whole of the UK.
