Live NI internationals to remain on BBC until 2028

Northern Ireland's upcoming Nations League campaign and EURO 2028 qualifiers will be broadcast live on the BBC.

The free-to-air agreement between the broadcaster and Uefa will see an extension of the current deal until June 2028, and will also include Scotland and Wales internationals as the BBC maintains its commitment to make international football accessible to all.

In the build-up to the 2028 Uefa European Championship, hosted by the UK and the Republic of Ireland, there will be around 60 live games available between the three nations, while the tournament itself will be broadcast live on the BBC.

The extension builds upon a hugely successful partnership that has made the BBC the home of international football for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales since the initial deal was struck in March 2025, with live action available on BBC television, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.

Audiences have reflected the appetite for live international football, with an average UK-wide audience of 1.11m tuning in for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Germany, with 121,000 people watching in Northern Ireland alone.

Wales' exit and Scotland's dramatic qualification win over Denmark also saw audiences over 1m, while Steve Clarke's side's recent World Cup opener against Haiti drew a peak audience of 2.8 million viewers on BBC One and iPlayer, despite a 02:00 BST kick-off.

"Extending this agreement is fantastic news for football fans across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ensuring every match is available live and free-to-air on the BBC," said Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Director of BBC Nations.

"These fixtures bring communities together and deliver some of the biggest shared moments in our sporting calendar. We're proud to continue telling these stories and showcasing our nations' teams."

Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, added: "International football creates moments that unite communities, spark national pride and generate huge audiences across every platform.

"We're delighted to extend our partnership with Uefa and continue bringing every Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland men's international match to fans free-to-air.

"Whether watching on television, streaming on iPlayer or following through the BBC Sport website, app or our social channels, audiences can be sure the BBC will be there for every crucial moment on the road to Uefa Euro 2028."

BBC coverage of the Fifa World Cup continues throughout the tournament, including Scotland's match against Brazil this evening at 23:00 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.