W1A icon Ian Fletcher tells Radio Times all about his Twenty Twenty Six role: “This wasn’t just any other job”

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A few years ago, if you’d told me I’d be living and working in Miami, helping to put on what many consider to be one of the biggest sporting events ever, I wouldn’t have believed you. I probably would have just laughed it off.

I was fortunate to help make the London 2012 Games a huge success, and before that, I spent six years at the BBC leading their values program. That role ended when the BBC decided to outsource that work as part of cost-cutting measures, but I still wasn’t ready for what happened next.

Let me tell you, covering this event was a massive undertaking. Sixteen cities spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico – seriously, the distances were incredible! But beyond the sheer logistical challenge, the role I was asked to play felt different. This wasn’t just another assignment; it was something much bigger and more ambitious than I’d experienced before.

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Focusing on honesty and fair play in football, especially with the upcoming 2026 tournament, couldn’t come at a better time. This is a real chance to have a positive impact globally, and in a country like the United States, where surprising things happen all the time.

People often say top footballers seem to know where they’ll pass the ball before it even reaches them – or even if the pass never comes, which happens in life too. I wonder if this applies to professional life as well, especially with constant social media. If you’re in a public-facing leadership position, you can expect to be bombarded with questions and challenges constantly.

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Taking on the role of Director of Integrity means immediate and significant responsibility. In today’s complicated world, sports seem more important than ever. This event brought together 48 countries from around the world, all united by their love of football, to compete until only one champion remained.

This is a story that deserves to be told, and I’ve been determined to share it. It’s relevant for all of us, even if it’s not always easy to hear.

Written exclusively for TopMob by Twenty Twenty Six, W1A and Twenty Twelve creator John Morton.

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Ian Fletcher

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2026-03-30 20:36