Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures and EURO 2028 qualifiers will remain on the BBC. A new agreement between Uefa and the broadcaster extends their current free-to-air partnership until June 2028, ensuring continued coverage for international matches involving Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
This arrangement guarantees approximately 60 live matches for these nations leading up to the 2028 Uefa European Championship, which will be co-hosted by the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The tournament itself will also feature on the network. Since the original deal began in March 2025, the BBC has provided extensive coverage through its television channels, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sounds.
Viewer statistics demonstrate high engagement with these broadcasts. For instance, 1.11 million people across the UK watched Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Germany, with 121,000 of those viewers based in Northern Ireland. Other significant matches, such as Scotland’s game against Haiti, also drew large audiences exceeding one million viewers despite late kick-off times.
Rhuanedd Richards, the Interim Director of BBC Nations, expressed satisfaction with the extension, noting the importance of providing free-to-air access to these fixtures. Alex Kay-Jelski, the Director of BBC Sport, highlighted the role of international football in building national pride and uniting audiences. Fans can continue to follow matches via television, the BBC Sport app, the website, and social media platforms.
