UK
Joe Hart There’s long been a feeling that, when it comes to punditry, only goalkeepers should talk about goalkeepers given the unique nature of the role. That view will have been strengthened by Hart’s appearances during this World Cup. The former England No 1 has been an authoritative voice on all things shot-stopping, providing the sort of insight and analysis only a man who has been there, done that and worn the gloves can. Highlights include his flagging of keepers getting a hand to long-range efforts but not being able to keep them out and how this definitely wasn’t normal, and how a subtle left-sided weight emphasis was the reason Jordan Pickford was done at his near post for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s goal against England in Atlanta. This sort of thing, allied to passionate yet crisp oratory, has made Hart a big asset for the BBC, whose decision to stay at home has meant it needs as much punch as it can get.
- Roy Keane brings scathing, calmer authority to ITV, offering gripping, more analytical breakdowns and striking on-screen presence.
- Clarence Seedorf elevates Fox coverage with granular sequence analysis and graceful big-picture assessments, improving every segment.
- Harry Kewell offers thoughtful, coach-informed analysis for SBS, cutting through Socceroos chest-beating with incisive, experience-driven insight.
Roy Keane I’ve generally not been a fan of Keane as a pundit, but fair play to the former Republic of Ireland captain, he’s been a top watch from his chair in front of ITV’s stunning New York backdrop. There’s been the usual scathing takes and emphasising of “quality” but now with a relatively calm authority that makes for palatable as well as gripping viewing. Alongside that, it has felt, has been a genuine push to provide actual analysis. Not as much, or as detailed, as the excellent Emma Hayes, but certainly to a greater level than normal, seen in his breakdown of Brazil’s midfield failings during the first half of their last-32 contest with Japan. Keane has also nailed his look – cropped grey hair allied to a perfectly curated grey beard. He looks great, especially in the type of patterned shirt you could not have imagined would be in the wardrobe of such a no-nonsense man.
USA
Clint Dempsey There is no shortage of former players in the world of American soccer punditry. Alexi Lalas is the most notable but many others – Landon Donovan, Stu Holden, Maurice Edu and others – have found work in the studio or commentary box immediately after retirement. The USMNT legend Clint Dempsey did not follow that path. After stepping away from the game in 2018, the 43-year-old vanished from public view. When he remerged in 2021, he did so as a commentator for CBS Sports, to great effect. Dempsey has refined his craft and been superb on Fox’s World Cup coverage this summer. Deuce is laid back and brutally honest all at once and among the few US players working in media who has the bone fides to back up his analysis. Dempsey’s analysis and commentary feel a bit like his play did – colourful, full of flair and sitting in stark contrast to the typical American fare.
Clarence Seedorf He retired just before European soccer’s major stateside boom but make no mistake: Fox’s coverage has been tremendously better off for the involvement of your favourite player’s favourite player, Clarence Seedorf. Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt compelled to fight his gregarian instincts when they first shared the soundstage, making sure viewers knew Seedorf was one of his idols. The former Netherlands international is a natural at punditry. Rather than craft his thoughts for soundbites, he really converses through the granular details of a sequence and can seamlessly shift into big-picture assessments with grace. It’s an approach that makes every segment better for his involvement, a fitting second act after doing similar floor-raising work in his years on the pitch.
Australia
Harry Kewell Since his playing retirement in 2014, Kewell’s focus has been firmly on coaching, plying his trade in England, Scotland, Japan and now Vietnam – with little success. So it was somewhat unexpected when the former Socceroo seamlessly slipped into the role of pundit on SBS’s World Cup panel. Kewell endeared himself to the local audience early, clapping back at the US analyst Mike Grella for his dismissive comments about Australia well before the tournamentf. The former Liverpool and Leeds winger’s analysis has proved to be thoughtful and incisive, particularly regarding Australia, and drawing on his experience as a coach, rather than just leaning on the title of former international, his insights have been a refreshing departure from the chest-beating, flag-waving blather that can often surround the Socceroos. Not to mention it helped that his appeal extends beyond his football expertise.
Kevin-Prince Boateng What on earth is Kevin-Prince Boateng doing on Australian TV screens during the World Cup? If the choice to have the Germany-born Ghana international as an SBS pundit seemed a bit odd at first, it makes sense when you realise the journeyman footballer has been living in Australia since retiring and is the coach of the national six-a-side team. Sitting on a panel including fellow former players Lydia Williams, Sarah Walsh, Tommy Oar and Kewell, Boateng brought a more international flavour to proceedings, having had a long playing career across the Bundesliga, Serie A and the Premier League and represented Ghana in two World Cups. His no-nonsense style has offered an undiluted view of this tournament, telling it like it is to a much greater extent than anyone else he has sat with at the desk, and really coming into his own for Ghana games.
