The battle has played out in Qatar and across our screens, intensifying since the opening match between the host country and Ecuador four long weeks ago. It will end on Sunday with the World Cup final, as one of Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappe delivers a career-defining victory for Argentina or France. It has all been a phoney war, though, for the real contest has also taken place across our screens but away from the pitch, building up to the moment where the nation must finally answer this crucial question: BBC or ITV?
Like Argentina and France, the BBC and ITV are the opponents who have been kept apart until the final, and whose performances thus far will inform our decision on which side to choose. Certainly, this has been a unique World Cup to present and both the BBC and ITV struck the right tone since their opening coverage, addressing Qatar’s human rights abuses and examining the issues that have made this World Cup so controversial. Sunday’s final will be another opportunity to highlight what is really important.
