She said: “I remember being wowed by my first World Cup, France 98, as a 10-year-old.
“If you’d have told me then that I’d be commentating on a World Cup 20 years later, I’d never have believed you – and neither would my mum, who always told me I’d grow out of liking football.
“She’s stopped saying that now.”
The BBC has yet to reveal the game in which she will be making her debut. Vicki has already covered football for BBC Newcastle and Radio Five Live.
She was at the centre of controversy last year when David Moyes – then Sunderland manager – threatened to slap her after a Match Of The Day interview.
Moyes, 55, sparked a row after being left angered by Vicki’s tough line of questioning after Sunderland drew a match against Burnley.
The Glasgow-born manager was caught on camera in an off-air exchange warning Vicki she should think twice before coming back to the Stadium of Light.
In the unscreened footage, Moyes criticised the reporter’s questioning, saying: “It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself.
“You still might get a slap even though you’re a woman. Careful the next time you come in.”
Vicki had grilled him over whether he was under pressure as his team headed towards relegation. Moyes later apologised and club officials said the matter had been resolved amicably.
Vicki got her big break in football coverage four years ago after Radio Five Live Sports Extra launched a drive to recruit would-be commentators from anywhere within the BBC to work on FA Women’s Super League matches.
Vicki, who was a broadcast assistant at Radio Newcastle at the time, said she was encouraged to apply by two local radio commentators who knew she had ambitions in their field.
She said: “I’ve always wanted to try and get into commentary so I thought I’d go for it and see what happened.”
Before landing the role she had only commentated on one match previously – Middlesbrough against Charlton in the Championship for BBC London.
She said she was “stunned” to learn she had made the cut. She is joined in Russia by two of England women’s longest serving female players.
Alex Scott, who is working as a pundit for the BBC, and Eniola Aluko, who is working for ITV.
