The soap schedule this week is continuing to be affected to make way for the coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2022, as England v USA kicks off at 7pm.
The controversial Qatar football tournament is airing on both the BBC and ITV as the world’s teams go head to head in the group stages.
While England fans will be on tenterhooks as the match unfolds this evening, the prospect is less exciting for soap fans, who are set to see their favourite shows moved again.
While Emmerdale typically airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, the Dales soap will now not air on Friday night.
It is a similar story for Coronation Street, which has also been moved from its regular 8pm slot on a Friday in order to air the match.
The disruption does not end this week, as Emmerdale is again missing from the Monday schedule due to the Portugal v Uruguay match in Qatar.
Coronation Street will also be affected as the soap will move from its slot at 8pm to a later 9.15pm broadcast.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said of the changes: “The World Cup is now in focus and we’re delighted to be able to bring viewers coverage of what promises to be some of the standout games of the tournament across ITV channels and our new free streaming service ITVX, which launches this autumn.
“We’re kicking-off with the opening match and will show England’s group stage match against the USA as well as games involving tournament favourites such as Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain and the Netherlands. Plus, we have picks one and two of the round of 16 and pick one of the quarter-finals.
“The ITV Sport team is now looking forward to bringing viewers the very best of the first winter World Cup.”
Gareth Southgate's Three Lions are set to take on their transatlantic rivals at 7pm tonight. Welsh fans will be drowning their sorrows this evening after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Iran this morning.
An England win against the US will see the team qualify before playing Wales next week, with the Welsh dragons needing to win to have any hope of going through.
Coronation Street returns on Monday on ITV1 while Emmerdale returns on Tuesday on ITV1.
