Where is the BBC World Cup studio? The corporation unveils its World Cup setting as ITV broadcast from USA

BBC World Cup 2026 studio — (Image credit: BBC)

The BBC has unveiled its new Salford-based studio for World Cup 2026, as the broadcaster prepares to work from home this summer.

UK TV rivals ITV have flown their presenters out to New York, where they have a custom-built studio in Brooklyn.

However, the BBC has defended the decision to stick to the UK, where they're expected to remain through the group stages at least, claiming that the new facility will allow them to present almost as if they were at the tournament.

BBC studio is 'not a green box in Salford'

ST HELENS, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Mark Chapman, BBC Presenter, looks on prior to the Autumn Test Series match between England and Tonga at Totally Wicked Stadium — Mark Chapman will feature among the BBC presenting team (Image credit: Getty Images)

The BBC has faced some criticism for its decision to stay at home, which the broadcaster states is for environmental reasons.

Included in those dissenting voices is former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who described his ex-employer's set up as "a green box in Salford".

Gary Lineker has an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo — Gary Lineker has criticised the BBC studio, labeling it a 'green box in Salford' (Image credit: Nick Eagle)

Speaking to the media ahead of the tournament, Director of BBC Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, said that wasn't the case, adding: "It's not a green box in Salford. It's a beautiful state-of-the-art studio. No one's seen it until now. I'm really proud of this.

"The actual end product people are getting at home, I don't really think it's that different. If the presenters were sitting somewhere else, would your viewing be massively changed?

"If I was standing here saying, 'Everything is going to be done from a studio in Dallas', you would rightly be saying to me, 'How can you justify that spend?'"

The BBC's new studio features a large panoramic screen, which will feature images of each match's respective host city.

That screen will be behind presenters Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Alex Scott, while a large screen beneath their feet will show footage and highlights from the matches being covered.

Olivier Giroud celebrates a goal for France against Chile in March 2024. — Ex-France striker Olivier Giroud will be among the BBC's pundits (Image credit: Getty Images)

The BBC's coverage won't be entirely UK-based, with pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy on-site, along with commentary teams and journalists.

And once the group stages have finished and the tournament progresses into the knockout rounds, the rest of the team is expected to fly out to join their colleagues, although the broadcaster is yet to commit to an exact date for that.

That will include presenters and pundits like Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Thomas Frank, Gael Clichy, Olivier Giroud and others.

Ryan Gray is a freelance writer, covering mainly travel and occasionally sport. He previously spent two years as Sports Editor at the Watford Observer before turning his hand to travel writing, with his work appearing in various national UK publications. He has gone from providing matchday commentary for Blyth Spartans to covering FA Cup and Euros finals, as well as interviewing the likes of Claudio Ranieri, Alan Shearer and Glenn Hoddle, among other big names.