Former England football star Gary Lineker has landed a multi-million pound deal with Netflix, securing a high-profile role for his show during the 2026 World Cup. This move comes after his high-profile departure from the BBC, marking a significant shift in sports broadcasting for the upcoming tournament.
From BBC to the Big Apple: Lineker's New Global Stage
The Rest Is Football, the podcast and show hosted by Lineker alongside fellow pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will be produced daily from a studio in New York throughout the World Cup. The show, which is produced by Lineker's own Goalhanger production company, will feature match analysis, interviews, and special guests, all streamed globally on Netflix.
Lineker, 65, described the partnership as a "fantastic opportunity" for the trio to talk football on a global stage. "Expect all the usual analysis, honesty and plenty of laughs… just with a few more cameras pointed at us, all from the Big Apple," he said. The show had previously been hosted by the BBC, but that deal was terminated in May 2025, paving the way for the streaming giant.
BBC's Cost-Cutting Decision Sparks Criticism
Netflix's agreement with Goalhanger arrives amidst growing scrutiny of the BBC's own plans for covering the 2026 tournament. The broadcaster has decided, citing cost and environmental concerns, not to send a TV team to North America for the initial rounds. Instead, coverage for the first 96 matches will be presented from its Salford base, with staff not flying to the USA until at least the quarter-final stage.
This decision has been met with dismay from some quarters. Clive Efford MP, the former shadow minister for sport, stated he was "shocked" and "stunned" by the move, emphasising that football is the national sport followed by millions. "The BBC should recognise that. It's a question of priorities and it looks like they're getting them completely wrong," he said.
A Lucrative New Chapter After BBC Departure
Lineker's exit from the BBC at the end of the 2024/25 season followed a controversy involving a social media post about Zionism that included a rat emoji, an image historically used as an antisemitic insult. Lineker apologised, claiming he had not seen the emoji. His popular show, which also boasts a successful YouTube channel with over eight million views, has now found a new and highly lucrative home.
The contrast between the BBC's scaled-back, remote coverage and Lineker's high-budget, on-location Netflix production highlights the changing landscape of sports media. While the BBC prioritises budget constraints, high-profile talent like Lineker are capitalising on the financial power and global reach of streaming services to deliver content directly to fans.
