BBC announce World Cup viewing figures after Gary Lineker left them red-faced

It's been a mixed World Cup for the BBC so far, with the broadcaster left feeling like they can't win. It comes after they were slated by viewers after deciding not to send a team of pundits out to North America, and instead opting to broadcast from their studio in Salford.

The broadcasters are expected to be on the ground when the knockouts get underway, and despite the backlash from some, the BBC have been reeling in the viewers for their World Cup coverage. That's according to the BBC themselves, who claim Wednesday, July 17 delivered their biggest day on the BBC Sport app since the final of Euro 2024.

Their highlights packages are also enjoying a boost in popularity, with claims there have been close to a 200 per cent increase in streams compared to Euro 2024. However, that could be in part down to matches kicking off at unsociable hours in the UK, meaning more are catching up on demand.

The BBC bosses were left red-faced over the weekend when Gary Lineker appeared on ITV as a pundit. Lineker left the Beeb last year following a row surrounding alleged anti-Semitic social media posts, having worked with the broadcaster for over two decades.

Regardless, the BBC suggest their television coverage is still pulling in the viewers, with France vs Senegal becoming the biggest ever UHD event on the BBC. And on the podcasting side of things, the Football Daily's visualised show has attracted almost a quarter of a million streams.