Will the BBC score an own goal by broadcasting the World Cup from Salford?

It is the biggest World Cup in history, and perhaps the most unpredictable. How will England and Scotland fare in the heat? Who drew Curaçao in the office sweepstake? And, crucially, will anyone notice that the BBC is broadcasting this giant sporting spectacle from 4,000 miles away in Salford? In an era of belt tightening, football is staying home for the corporation while rivals – including its former frontman Gary Lineker – showcase the tournament from glitzy studios in New York. …