Gary Lineker's The Rest Is Football podcast is set to return to Netflix for the upcoming Premier League season, the streaming service announced. The show, hosted by Lineker alongside former footballers Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, will begin airing in August 2026 and cover the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
World Cup Success Paves Way for Return
The podcast first debuted on Netflix earlier this year during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The trio provided daily episodes of debate and expert analysis throughout the nearly six-week tournament. The 40-episode run proved highly popular, with Netflix confirming that the show appeared in its daily top 10 TV chart every day, peaking at number one in the UK.
What to Expect in the New Season
Lineker expressed enthusiasm about the show's return: "We had a brilliant time making the show during the World Cup, and the response was incredible, so it's great to be back on Netflix every week throughout the Premier League season. The Rest Is Football podcast will continue across the week too, while the Netflix show gives us another chance to get stuck into the biggest stories. Expect plenty of opinions, plenty of laughs and, with Alan and Micah involved, probably a few arguments as well."
The series will continue to be produced by Goalhanger Podcasts, the production company Lineker co-founded in 2014. Goalhanger is known for other successful podcasts such as The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, and The Rest Is Entertainment. The Rest Is Football itself is one of the world's biggest sports podcasts.
Lineker's Background
Lineker, 65, is a former England striker renowned for his 16-year football career with clubs including Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur. He was the top goal scorer at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He previously hosted the BBC's flagship football show Match of the Day, but left in May 2025 after a controversy over an Instagram post about Zionism that featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult. Lineker apologized, stating he did not see the rat visual and did not think anyone would believe he posted it intentionally. He was the BBC's highest-paid presenter and had hosted the show since 1999, also fronting coverage of major events like the 2012 London Olympics.
