The countdown has finished, the cameras are rolling, microphones are live, and millions have tuned in — now watch what you say. Players on the pitch are under intense pressure at the World Cup, but it is also a test for the TV presenters, pundits, and commentators who must choose their words more carefully than ever during live broadcasts watched by huge audiences.

The Tightrope of Live Broadcasting

Under scrutiny from social media users, broadcasters also walk a tightrope in an increasingly politicised world when the spheres of global affairs and sport constantly intersect. At their best, they can provide insight, context, and levity to the action on the pitch during live games. But they can also become the story — and not in a positive way.

That was demonstrated when former Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger described African football as "wild," "unorthodox," and "perhaps not tactically driven" during a TV appearance on German broadcaster ARD's coverage before Germany beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their second group-stage match.

The 41-year-old was widely criticised but responded in a statement insisting he "was talking about football, not about people," and that his words were "a football analysis. No more and no less. There's no way I wanted to offend someone."

Handling Sensitive Topics: The Thomas Partey Situation

One of the most delicate situations at this World Cup involved Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who until last summer played for Premier League club Arsenal alongside opponents-on-the-day Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. Shortly after leaving the London side, he was charged with rape and sexual assault.

The question for BBC was how the English team would react when they encountered Partey during the pre-match handshake before their Group L match. As it turned out, everyone shook hands with Partey — except defender Djed Spence of Arsenal's big local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who appeared to snub him as he walked past.

Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault in July 2025, and two further counts of rape this February. He denies any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to all charges before his trial in London, which is expected to take place next year.

At half-time, BBC presenter Gabby Logan explained the reports that Spence had not shaken hands with Partey, the background that the Ghanaian had been refused entry to Canada for their opening group match in Toronto against Panama, and the charges against him. On social media, some users applauded her for addressing the allegations. Others questioned why she raised the issue at all.

Behind the Scenes: How Broadcasters Prepare

The reality was that producers had agreed the issue needed to be acknowledged and worked on a clear and legally safe way to do it without falling foul of British laws around prejudicing ongoing criminal proceedings.

"You normally have a production meeting beforehand with the presenter and the pundits when you talk about the running order and topics of discussion, perhaps allocating who will speak about which topics," explains Emma Paton, a presenter on UK digital broadcaster Sky Sports and the new host of The Athletic FC Podcast.

"If there are any topics that have ongoing legal proceedings or other health warnings, we'd discuss that then, and make sure everyone is aware and can be mindful of them."

Paton says more nuanced human topics, such as grief in the wake of France head coach Didier Deschamps flying home during the group phase when his mother died, can be handled in a sensitive manner.

Combating Stereotyping in Football Commentary

When it comes to stereotyping, broadcasters such as Sky Sports, organisations including Kick It Out, and the Premier League collaborate on webinars with commentators and pundits to discuss how to avoid it. That was prompted by a 2020 study by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), effectively players' trade union in the UK, which found "evident bias" in some broadcasts relating to the skin colour of players.

In 80 televised games analysed across four European leagues, including the Premier League, players with a lighter skin tone were praised more often for their intelligence and work ethic. Those with darker skin tones were "significantly" more likely to be "reduced to their physical characteristics or athletic ability," such as their "pace and power."

"Lazy punditry often goes hand in hand with stereotyping," says former Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, and Republic of Ireland player Clinton Morrison, who works as a pundit for BBC Sport, Sky Sports, and TalkSport.

"If a team is at the World Cup, playing at the highest level, they haven't got there by being wild and disorganised. I won't shy away from describing a player's physical qualities, but I will always put it in the proper context of the game and how it's helping their performance, rather than generalising."

The Importance of Thorough Preparation

One of the safest ways to avoid a backlash is thorough preparation. "You have to be so mindful of the language you use," says BBC Newsround presenter Nina Blissett, who presented items about the England Women's team as they won the 2025 European Championship.

"During the Euros, the news emerged about racist abuse Jess Carter had been receiving. It was a case of quickly understanding how much we know of the extent of what's happened, whether the police are involved and then thinking how to explain it carefully and clearly — especially to a young audience at Newsround."

That wariness over word usage is ever more prevalent. "Sometimes it's even being careful of cliches, or sayings — particularly military-themed ones, for example referring to the ball as like a grenade, which none of the players want," says former Manchester United and Stoke City player Danny Higginbotham, who now works as a commentator and is covering this World Cup for U.S. broadcaster Fox Sports.

"In this day and age, with conflicts so common around the world, you're better off avoiding them."

Higginbotham revealed the extent of his preparation: "For the World Cup, I spoke to someone from every single nation. It took me two months to get the detail I wanted from people who knew about every team. I wanted to make sure I could speak about the players with insight."

"Football fans are far more educated about the game now, and they can access a lot of stats at their fingertips, so you have to go further to add value and give them context. I probably go over the top in terms of my prep — I probably use maybe 20 per cent, or maximum 60 per cent, of the information I'll collect."

Navigating Politics and Player Personal Stories

This World Cup has already featured the ongoing dynamic of the Iran national team's involvement on American soil, amid the shaky ceasefire between the two countries, along with U.S. immigration officials refusing to allow Somali FIFA referee Omar Artan into the country.

"I'm not really a political person, so I just steer clear of things like that," says Higginbotham. "A lot of it comes down to common sense. The way I look at it is to keep front and centre that I'm covering a football match and, for a lot of people, football is an escape and they don't want politics and other stuff part of it."

When it comes to subjects such as politics, for Morrison, it is simple. "I stay away from anything that could get you in trouble or trip myself up. I'm there to talk about football, and I am the first to hold my hand up and admit I don't necessarily know the exact ins and outs of other things, like politics. But I back myself to know everything I can about the game I'm covering, and I'll always do my homework."

Sometimes, random events can demand a reaction, and that's when Higginbotham relies on his research and sense of boundaries. "I won't go near any scandal linked to players. I'm not there for anything like that. But if there's something visible to all on the field — like a player bursts into tears after scoring a goal and we've known he's spoken about a bereavement, then we will talk about that."

"When Raul Jimenez scored for Mexico recently, we discussed how he'd had that horrific head injury which could have killed him, and he lost his dad earlier this year. Or if a player has a celebration, like putting the ball up their shirt, then if it's public knowledge you can talk about their partner being pregnant."

Finding the Balance Between Authenticity and Responsibility

The punditry that viewers often enjoy engaging with is when those in the studio are relaxed and laughing. But how do you get the right balance between humour, banter, and responsibility on air?

"You want to be yourself and natural in your reactions," says Paton. "People can spot it if you're being inauthentic. The viral clips of pundits having a laugh are natural reactions — that's why they are so popular. It's a case of trusting yourself."

Morrison knows individual pundits' styles will always irk someone on social media. When starting out in broadcasting, he was criticised for his south London accent but says he found more experienced colleagues supportive.

"I've got good mentors. I can pick up the phone and chat to Ian Wright, and Paul Merson has always been brilliant with me. From my first appearances on TV when I was quite nervous, he has been so supportive and helped me improve."

Ultimately, staying on the right side of the line appears to also be about knowing your role and not blurring the boundaries to fill dead air. "If I am preparing to cover a game and a story breaks about a player, I won't go near it," says Higginbotham. "If the main commentator has to address it, so be it, but I'm not a journalist. I'm there to talk about why things happen in the game."