FOOTBALL’S coming home to ITV tonight as the usual soap line-up makes way for England’s opening World Cup match.
The channel will not be airing Coronation Street or Emmerdale ahead of the Three Lions’ Group L clash with Croatia, which kicks off at 9pm.
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Coronation Street is off air tonight as football takes over ITV Credit: ITV
The England squad arrive in Florida ahead of their opening World Cup clash with Croatia Credit: Getty
Both soaps have been wiped from the schedule and replaced by ITV’s build-up coverage and live broadcast of the match.
Coronation Street usually airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1, with episodes available to stream on ITVX.
Emmerdale, meanwhile, airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is also available on ITVX.
Tonight, the Three Lions take on Croatia in their first match of the tournament, with millions of fans expected to tune in from home.
STAT ENERGY
Stats prove who England should start in World Cup opener vs Croatia
LIONS DEN
England fans take over RODEO ahead of Croatia World Cup clash
Emmerdale won’t be airing tonight as ITV makes way for England’s World Cup opener Credit: Rex
Harry Kane leads England into their first World Cup match of the tournament tonight Credit: AFP
England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, and since the tournament got underway soap schedules have been thrown into chaos, with episodes regularly moved, delayed or pulled altogether.
The soaps will also be off air on Thursday, with Bosnia v Switzerland being shown live instead.
Normal scheduling will resume on Friday, when Emmerdale returns to its usual 8pm slot, followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm.
The World Cup is being played across the United States, Canada and Mexico, meaning many matches are kicking off in the evening for UK viewers, disrupting the usual TV schedules.
However, if you’re not a football fan, Channel 4 will still be airing Location, Location, Location at 9pm, going head-to-head with the match.
Watch England play their first World Cup match live on ITV tonight from 8 pm.
