Gary Lineker is set to feature as a pundit on ITV's coverage of the World Cup on Saturday night. The former BBC presenter will join the broadcaster for the group stage match between Germany and Ivory Coast.
Lineker's Return to Terrestrial Television
This appearance marks Lineker's return to traditional terrestrial television for the first time since his departure from the BBC last year. He presented Match of the Day for the final time at the end of the 2024/25 season, ending a 26-year tenure, following a dispute over social media posts.
The terms of his exit initially stipulated that he would return to the BBC to front their World Cup coverage this summer. However, an antisemitism controversy led to him severing ties with the corporation entirely. Lineker apologized for sharing a post containing an antisemitic trope, asserting he had not done so knowingly.
Why is Gary Lineker on ITV's World Cup Coverage?
Although Lineker has stepped back from traditional media, he remains a prominent figure in sports broadcasting. He currently hosts The Rest is Football podcast from New York, which is now broadcast on Netflix. Alongside co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker has been presenting a daily version of the show after signing a lucrative deal with Netflix.
ITV's World Cup coverage is being hosted from a studio in New York overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, reportedly very close to Lineker's podcast base. It is unclear how significant his role on ITV will be tonight, with reports ranging from a brief cameo to a full punditry stint throughout the match.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
