BBC presenter Mark Chapman was forced to address the 'elephant in the room' during the broadcaster's live coverage of the Netherlands vs Sweden World Cup match on Saturday evening, after the network faced criticism for choosing not to build a studio at the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Chapman's Shirt Sparks Banter
After welcoming viewers and introducing a nostalgia piece about the Cruyff turn, Chapman turned to introduce pundits Micah Richards, Thomas Frank, and Ellen White. Richards quickly interjected: “Let's address the elephant in the room first.” A surprised Chapman replied: “There is no elephant in the room,” prompting Richards to point out: “The shirt! It is a bit fancy for you, Chappers.”
The 52-year-old presenter was wearing a vivid red and black shirt, which drew compliments from Frank and White. Richards then asked: “Are you going to Miami? Are you going to New York? I know you are going over there for radio, but you are not over yet.” Chapman responded: “It is a lovely Saturday afternoon here. Where are we? Houston and I thought I would just keep the vibe. Can I talk about football now?”
BBC Studio Criticism Intensifies
The BBC has faced backlash for basing its World Cup coverage in Salford rather than in the United States, while ITV's studio features a glamorous view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Earlier in the week, MLS side Houston Dynamo took a jab at the BBC after spotting an error during a live broadcast. During Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo on June 17, Chapman was joined by Wayne Rooney, Olivier Giroud, and Gael Clichy, with a screen behind them displaying a Houston skyline—manipulated to include scenic mountain views, despite Houston being 105 feet above sea level with no such mountains.
Houston Dynamo shared a manipulated photo of their Shell Energy Stadium with a snowy mountain range, captioning it: "You just can't beat this view."
Lineker's Absence and ITV Move
Former BBC mainstay Gary Lineker jokingly remarked that his former colleagues were set up in 'a green box in Salford'. The 'elephant in the room' may also refer to Lineker joining ITV's coverage of the tournament. Lineker has been lined up as a guest for the group stage clash between Germany and Ivory Coast on Saturday night. His contract with the BBC ended after the 2024-25 season following a dispute over social media posts. Lineker now hosts The Rest is Football podcast from New York with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, after signing a big-money deal with Netflix.
