The biggest disruption comes with England’s tournament opener, which is expected to occupy ITV’s key evening football window. With a major international fixture competing for viewers, the soaps will reportedly make way rather than appear later that night.
The update says the Thursday schedule will also be reshaped, with Switzerland against Bosnia and Herzegovina taking over the slot normally reserved for the two long-running dramas.
For viewers, it is a familiar trade-off during major tournaments: football takes the centre of the evening, while regular programming is paused to protect the live broadcast.
The interruption comes after ITV introduced its weekday “soaps power hour” in January. The format places Emmerdale at 8pm and Coronation Street at 8.30pm, replacing the previous episode pattern for both programmes.
Lygo’s reasoning was that audiences now have more ways to watch through ITVX and need a simpler, more consistent routine. He also argued that the revised volume of episodes reflects changing viewing habits and the increasingly competitive battle for attention.
That strategy will remain visible around the World Cup changes. The report says both soaps are expected to air normally on Monday, 15 June, Tuesday, 16 June, and Friday, 19 June.
The decision underlines the continuing power of international football in the television schedule. Even established dramas can be moved when England’s national team enters a major tournament, particularly in a prime-time fixture.
The next storyline to watch will be whether England’s opener delivers the audience ITV expects - and whether the broadcaster’s streamlined soaps format quickly regains its place once the World Cup schedule moves on.