Micah Richards makes cheeky Gary Lineker reference live on BBC for first World Cup clash

MICAH RICHARDS took a cheeky dig at Gary Lineker immediately after returning to the BBC during the World Cup. It only took minutes of the Beeb’s first match for Richards to take a swipe at his fellow pundit – who he is also working with during the tournament. Former Match of the Day presenter Lineker, 65, left the company completely in May 2025 after a controversial social media post – and Gabby Logan has replaced him on World Cup coverage. Richards, who often works for Sky Sports during the regular Prem season, will be appearing next to both Lineker and Logan this summer. He is due to split his World Cup between Lineker’s Rest is Football Manhattan podcast studio and the BBC‘s home-based setup in the UK. Appearing along with Wayne Rooney, Logan, and Olivier Giroud for the BBC’s first game – Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto – on Friday, Richards wasted no time in breaking the ice. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP Logan aimed an early jibe at him, going through Rooney and Giroud’s major tournament credentials, before saying: “It’s an eighth World Cup for Micah Richards… watching on TV.” She then continued: “We know you’ve been out in New York this week and I admire your commitment but you didn’t actually need to acclimatise because I’m bringing New York to you right here.” Pointing to the BBC’s big screen, which changes locations based on different matches, Logan cleared the air around the hotly debated call not to take a presenting team out to USA like ITV and others. Richards jumped straight in, replying: “This is amazing. If you look over there you can I think you can see Gary Lineker.” Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS World Cup 2026 - all the info LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! This year’s World Cup will be like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize. England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought. But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance. SunSport have got everything you need for the huge tournament LATEST NEWS - Behind the scenes at Lineker’s swear-happy Netflix World Cup gig - Fans fume at empty World Cup seats - World Cup fans say Gary Neville is ‘already tired’ of Roy Keane - How BBC vs ITV line-ups compare for the World Cup KEY INFO - World Cup 2026 full match schedule including kick-off times - World Cup 2026 full squads - World Cup 2026 rule changes - World Cup 2026 prize money VIDEO TIPS AND BETTING If you click a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. The room exploded with laughter before Logan responded: “Same initials. Different person.” Former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Richards was then asked about his hectic schedule, which requires him to be “over there [America] every few days or so.” Richards explained: “It felt great. More importantly, it was about the Knicks because they’re doing well [after] so many years. “We won’t really see the atmosphere and feel it until America play but out there it was buzzing. “But I’m absolutely buzzing – thanks for the call-up.” Ex-host Lineker was quick to fire back at the news that the BBC decided to broadcast from their Salford base rather than in America. CLICK ON PIC FOR STAR’S PROFILE He said: “‘I am very surprised the Beeb are not coming. “It doesn’t make sense to me. I understand that whatever they do they get criticised because that is the nature of the BBC. “But I must say this World Cup is the biggest deal over the next five or six weeks. “It will probably get the vast majority of the most watched television programmes of the year. “Almost certainly therefore it justifies a presence. And they will cover it fine… but I have done many shows when we have not been able to go to tournaments and you are in a green box. “Even if it looks like you are not at home – you are. And it’s soulless.” Lineker will instead be going directly onto Netflix with old pal Alan Shearer and Richards. They have a plush Times Square studio and more freedom to produce content than ever before.