Houston Dynamo mock BBC after mountains appear in flat city's World Cup backdrop

The BBC found itself the target of social media ridicule during the 2026 World Cup after its studio backdrop for a match played in Houston, Texas, featured a dramatic mountain range — in a city that sits just 105 feet above sea level.

During Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo on 17 June, presenter Mark Chapman was joined in the Salford MediaCity studio by Wayne Rooney, Olivier Giroud and Gaël Clichy, with a screen behind them displaying what was meant to be the Houston skyline. Viewers quickly noticed that the image had been digitally altered to include scenic mountain scenery that bears no resemblance to the flat Gulf Coast city.

The BBC opted to host its punditry from its Salford base rather than send staff to North America for the group-stage fixtures, citing environmental and budgetary reasons. Presenters including Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Alex Scott have been anchoring coverage from the UK throughout the early rounds.

The geographical gaffe did not go unnoticed. “The Houston mountains are actually gorgeous this time of year,” wrote one viewer on social media, while another called the BBC’s decision to add mountains to the green-screen background “one of the most dubious things I’ve ever seen.” A third quipped: “The Houston mountains are usually snow-capped well into July, so this BBC photo might be a fake.”

MLS club Houston Dynamo seized on the moment, posting a manipulated image of their Shell Energy Stadium set against a snow-capped mountain range, captioned: “You just can’t beat this view.” The NBA’s Houston Rockets joined in, sharing a mock-up postcard of the city nestled among towering peaks with the caption: “Just another beautiful day in the Houston Alps.”

The BBC has since confirmed the background error was corrected. The corporation’s decision to cover the early stages of the tournament from Salford had already drawn criticism before the mountain mishap, including from former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who noted in April that he would be attending the tournament in person while his former employers remained “in Salford in a green box”.