Juan Mata is enjoying the 2026 FIFA World Cup from a different perspective. The Spanish footballer has travelled to the United States this time as part of ITV’s broadcast team, with the network being one of the two free-to-air channels showing the tournament in the United Kingdom. Together, both broadcasters have provided uninterrupted World Cup coverage since 1966.
Mata will join a panel featuring former players Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Karen Carney, as well as head coaches Emma Hayes and Ange Postecoglou. The first match he will cover as a pundit will be Australia vs Turkey, a fixture that carries special significance for Juan, who has played in both countries during his career with Galatasaray — where he won the league title — and with Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory. It was also against Australia that Juan scored his only FIFA World Cup goal.
The match between Germany and Curaçao and Spain’s opener against Cape Verde were the other games Juan covered live. “Everyone agrees that Spain is one of the favorites,” he said.
This new role offers Juan the opportunity to enjoy a fresh experience and follow a tournament from a different angle — one he famously won with Spain in 2010.
