Wayne Rooney to host BBC football trivia show inspired by Haaland's Hudson River challenge

Wayne Rooney is set to front a new BBC football trivia series called Can You Beat Wayne Rooney?, in which the Manchester United and England legend takes on a different famous guest each week to settle who knows the game better. Comedian Alex Brooker will host the show, which will air on BBC Sport’s Football YouTube channel.

According to the BBC, each episode is designed to do more than settle a trivia contest. “While guests will arrive convinced they can beat him, every question unlocks a story from Wayne’s extraordinary journey through football, taking audiences behind the scenes of dressing rooms, title races, international tournaments and some of the sport’s most iconic moments,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

The concept is said to have been partly inspired by a public challenge from Erling Haaland, who called Rooney out to row across New York’s Hudson River after Rooney pledged to do so if Norway beat Brazil in the World Cup — a bet Norway won 2-1.

“When Erling called me out to honour my challenge after Norway beat Brazil, there was no way I was backing out,” Rooney said. “That’s probably why I know I’m going to enjoy this series so much.”

Rooney added that the competitive edge baked into the format reflects a core part of his personality. “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. Every guest will turn up thinking they can beat me and, honestly, I don’t like losing.”

The show marks Rooney’s latest television project after a busy period in front of the camera. He recently opened his home to Disney cameras for the fly-on-the-wall documentary The Real Rooneys, and previously fronted The Rooney Show for the BBC, the final episode of which aired on 17 July.

England’s second-highest all-time scorer has spent much of the past year working as a pundit, but Can You Beat Wayne Rooney? represents a shift toward presenter-led, personality-driven content — with Rooney himself at the centre of every episode.