Gary Lineker's BBC Departure and ITV World Cup Role
Gary Lineker has left the BBC after a 26-year association, ending in 2025 following a social media controversy. He had been set to host the BBC's 2026 World Cup coverage but agreed to step back entirely from sports presenting after his final Match of the Day season.
Studio Dig and BBC Response
Lineker criticised the BBC's decision to base its World Cup studio in Salford rather than North America, mocking it as a cramped 'green box.' BBC presenter Gabby Logan defended the move, citing cost, while director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski said viewers would see no quality drop and that spending licence fee money on a Dallas studio was unjustifiable. The BBC unveiled a new virtual studio with augmented reality to replicate host city skylines.
New Ventures
Lineker secured a £14 million Netflix deal for The Rest Is Football podcast with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, recording daily from New York during the tournament. He also hosts ITV game show The Box, where celebrities face challenges in yellow boxes. Additionally, Lineker is set for a surprise punditry role with ITV during the World Cup, having praised the broadcaster for not cutting to ads during hydration breaks.
