UMVA has learned that England's World Cup opener tonight on ITV1 may be shrouded in a peculiar conspiracy, with statistics suggesting an ominous trend for the team.
Since the 1998 World Cup in France, ITV has aired 34 England games, with a staggeringly low 10 victories - a win percentage of just 29.4% for the broadcaster, including 13 defeats. This has been a recurring theme, with ITV's coverage featuring some of England's most disappointing losses.
Notable games include the semi-final defeat to Croatia at the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-final loss to France in 2022, as well as the humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland. The broadcaster has also brought England fans painful memories of World Cup penalty shootout losses to Portugal and Argentina.
In stark contrast, the BBC has a significantly healthier record, with 21 wins out of 31 games - a win-percentage of 67.7% - over the same period. However, they have also aired eight England losses, including the embarrassing 4-1 thrashing by Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
Both broadcasters have shown England's recent major tournament matches, including the last two European Championship finals, where England lost to Italy and Spain. The broadcasting schedule for England's 2026 World Cup games has been announced, with ITV broadcasting the group stage games against Croatia and Panama.
The BBC will show the clash with Ghana, and if England progresses through the knockouts, they are likely to show their round of 32, round of 16, and semi-final matches. ITV will have first pick for the quarter-finals, and both broadcasters will air the final.
