Who are the BBC commentators, pundits and presenters for Czechia vs South Africa?

Benni McCarthy, striker and forwards coach of Manchester United
Benni McCarthy (Image credit: Getty Images)

World Cup 2026 didn't get off to the best start for either of the teams that meet in Atlanta in Group A today.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is hosting the only Group A match taking place outside Mexico. Czechia vs South Africa will be broadcast live and for free in the UK on BBC One. Streaming is available on the iPlayer.

It's a must-win for both teams and the BBC producers have constructed a top-notch punditry team for the occasion.

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BBC commentators, presenters and pundits for Czechia vs South Africa

Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams

Coverage in the UK will begin at 4:30pm, 30 minutes before kick-off in Georgia.

Mark Chapman will be the presenter before, during and after the game, and will be joined by former Wales captain Ashley Williams, ex-Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank, and South Africa international Benni McCarthy.

Your commentator for the first game of the day will be Steve Wilson, whose right-hand man for co-commentary duties is former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa full-back Stephen Warnock.

McCarthy and Warnock played 82 matches together for Blackburn. The legendary South Africa striker is the current head coach of Kenya and brings knowledge of his own national team to the BBC studio today.

He scored his only World Cup finals goal back in 2002, when his equaliser in Daejeon briefly restored parity in South Africa's group stage fixture against Spain.

There will be no shortage of international experience on hand in Salford. McCarthy played 79 times for Bafana Bafana, Williams 86 times for Wales.

Warnock, now 44, played in two friendlies for England either side of the World Cup in 2010.

Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank (Image credit: Getty Images)

Chapman's punditry trio will be completed by Danish manager Frank, who left Brentford for Spurs last summer but wasn't long for the job in North London.

Frank worked in the Denmark youth set-up before he was appointed as manager of the first team of Brondby and subsequently moving to London with the Bees.

Will Czechia or South Africa get their knock-out quest back on track today? Let us know your prediction...

Chris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.

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