Can You Beat Wayne Rooney? coming to BBC
September 18, 2026



Wayne Rooney is returning to the BBC this autumn in a new, visualised podcast titled Can You Beat Wayne Rooney? that will see the former England captain and Manchester United legend put his football brain to the test against a series of famous faces from the worlds of sport, entertainment and popular culture.

Hosted by comedian Alex Brooker and available to watch on BBC Sport’s Football YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer and to listen to on BBC Sounds and all major podcast platforms, the weekly series will combines football trivia, competition and stories from one of the greatest careers in the game.


Rooney said: “Anyone who knows me knows I’m competitive, whether it’s on a football pitch, playing paddle or on a golf course and even rowing on the Hudson River. When Erling called me out to honour my challenge after Norway beat Brazil, there was no way I was backing out. That’s probably why I know I’m going to enjoy this series so much. We’ve evolved the podcast to lean into that competitive side of my personality, because I know that’s something the people love to see. Every guest will turn up thinking they can beat me and, honestly, I don’t like losing. A single question can take you straight back to a dressing room, a match or a moment you haven’t thought about in years. We’ve got some great guests lined up, plenty of laughs and some fantastic football conversations”.

Brooker added: “Wayne is an absolute winner, he hates losing. I can’t wait to see every guest arrive trying to take him down and Wayne determined not to let it happen! Add in the incredible stories that come from the questions and you’ve got something football fans are going to love. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Can You Beat Wayne Rooney? will be produced in Manchester by Persephonica, the company behind popular BBC Sounds podcast Games Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast, among others.