Gary Lineker has criticised the BBC's decision to broadcast the World Cup from Salford rather than the United States, where rival broadcasters are setting up glitzy studios. The former England striker, who left the BBC last May after a row over social media posts, will present his podcast 'The Rest Is Football' from New York City's Times Square for Netflix under a reported £14m deal.
Lineker commented: 'I would have been in Salford in a green box and now I’m going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests.' The BBC's Salford studio, located near a Greggs and a Holiday Inn, lacks the stateside pizazz of ITV's Brooklyn base or Lineker's Times Square setup.
Despite the criticism, BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski defended the cost-saving approach, noting that hosting from Salford saves 'a few million' pounds and reduces carbon emissions by 19% compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The BBC will use a 'brand-new, state-of-the-art immersive studio' with a giant LED backdrop of host cities, digitally enhanced to match conditions at each venue.
Pundits including Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and Danny Murphy will contribute from Salford, with Shearer and Richards also appearing alongside Lineker on 'The Rest Is Football'. The BBC has confirmed it will not fund presenters appearing on rival outlets. Kay-Jelski added that no one has turned down the BBC due to location, and the team will operate on a US time zone to match late-night kick-offs.
