The BBC has unveiled a rebrand for one of its most recognisable football shows ahead of the new Premier League season.
From this weekend, Match of the Day 2, the long-running Sunday night follow-up to the flagship Saturday programme, will drop the ‘2’ from its title and simply be called Match of the Day.
This decision brings the weekend’s football highlights under a single banner as part of a wider revamp.
The change comes at the start of a significant new chapter for the programme following the departure of Gary Lineker, who stepped down at the end of last season after 26 years as the show’s lead presenter.
The former England striker’s exit has paved the way for a fresh presenting line-up featuring Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan.
Chapman, a familiar face to BBC viewers through his work on Match of the Day 2 and Sports Report, is expected to take the reins for the first edition under the new format this Sunday.
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Cates, the daughter of Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish, will front the BBC’s midweek European coverage, starting with Tottenham’s European Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Logan, one of the BBC’s most experienced sports broadcasters, is also set to be part of the rotation, though her first appearance on the highlights show is yet to be confirmed.
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She could be in line for her debut later this month.
Lineker had been expected to return to the BBC next year to lead coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
But he left the corporation entirely in May following controversy over comments which sparked an antisemitism row.
Following his exit, the former Tottenham, Leicester, Barcelona and England star issued an apology. He said: “On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references.
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“I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.
The BBC hopes the rebrand, paired with its refreshed presenting team, will modernise the long-standing highlights show while retaining its place as a Sunday night staple for football fans.