The BBC has decided not to send its presenting and punditry team to the United States for this week's World Cup quarter-finals, as part of an effort to limit costs to licence-fee payers. Having said throughout the tournament that its broadcast plans remained flexible, the corporation has now confirmed that its studio panel will not travel to the host country until the semi-finals, meaning it will spend less than a week there.

The BBC holds the live rights to only one of this week's four quarter-finals — Spain against Belgium on Friday evening — while ITV will show the other three, including England's tie with Norway on Saturday night. The team of presenters Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, alongside pundits Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart, will broadcast from the host cities for BBC TV and Radio 5 Live from the semi-finals onwards. Should England reach the last four, the BBC would air their potential match against Argentina, as it has first pick of the semi-finals.