Match of the Day 2 is rebranding for the start of a new era ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, with the Sunday night Premier League recap now to be known simply as Match of the Day.
As of this weekend’s first round of games, the Sunday night show, previously hosted by Mark Chapman, will share the MotD branding, and presenting team, with the flagship Saturday night flagship edition.
Chapman is part of a new trio set to host Match of the Day on Saturday, Sunday and for continental highlights during midweek, with the new midweek show to be known as Match of the Day: Champions League. All three iterations of the show are shot in the purpose-built MotD studio at dock10.
He will lead coverage of the first Saturday night show of the new era at 10:20pm this weekend, before Gabby Logan takes up a spot on the sofa on Sunday evening at 10:30pm.
Kelly Cates, previously known for hosting live Sky Sports match coverage, will also be part of the rotating MotD team, and will make her on-screen BBC debut with a short Premier League preview show at 11:10pm on Wednesday 13th August.
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Wayne Rooney will be a key presence across the Match of the Day titles throughout the season after signing a deal worth a reported £800,000 to offer his thoughts and analysis.
The shake-up follows the departure of long-running MotD host Gary Lineker, following a series of battles with BBC bosses over his social media use.
In November 2024, Lineker was confirmed as stepping down from Match of the Day hosting duties at the end of the season, though he was still due to front the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
However, his complete departure was brought forward when he left the corporation with immediate effect following the final Match of the Day episode of the 2024/25 season after sharing a post deemed anti-Semitic by some on social media.
The former England striker continues to feature alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on the popular The Rest Is Football podcast, which is produced by his company, Goalhanger. He is also set to host new ITV Saturday night game show The Box.
There has been little fanfare over the subtle, but significant change, although the new nomenclature has already made it to this weekend’s TV guides:
Saturday night’s debut MotD of 2025/26 will feature highlights from Aston Villa v Newcastle, Tottenham v Burnley, Wolves v Man City and more.
Sunday will show the best of the action from Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest v Brentford and a huge opening weekend clash between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford.
