Benni McCarthy lands World Cup role alongside Wayne Rooney

Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy is set to join a star-studded lineup of football experts, including Wayne Rooney, for BBC Sport’s coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

McCarthy, who currently manages the Kenyan national team, will take on a significant global media role as an analyst for the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

South Africa’s all-time top scorer will provide expert commentary on the newly-expanded 104-match competition.

Having played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, McCarthy brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is already a familiar face to BBC viewers, having previously served as a guest and analyst on several of the broadcaster’s football shows and podcasts.

Who will Benni McCarthy work with?

The BBC has assembled an impressive panel for its coverage, which will be fronted by presenters Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott. McCarthy will share the studio with football luminaries such as Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, Olivier Giroud, and Joe Hart. Other notable figures include Cesar Azpilicueta, Lucas Leiva, and former Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank.

Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC Director of Sport, expressed the broadcaster’s ambition for the tournament.

“The BBC is turning the biggest World Cup in history into the most iconic one yet. We’re bringing fans closer to every match, every moment and every story than ever before,” he stated as quoted by the network.

BBC confident of top World Cup coverage

“Sport truly unites people like nothing else, so we can’t wait for fans to enjoy not just the live matches with us but an abundance of football content all day, every day across our platforms.”

In addition to its traditional broadcasts, BBC Sport will enhance its coverage with dedicated content on its YouTube and TikTok channels, featuring live pre-match build-ups and streams of the opening minutes of select games.

It is expected that McCarthy will join the BBC team after managing Kenya’s international friendlies against Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan in June, as the Harambee Stars prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.