Gary Lineker and The Rest Is Football have revealed a forthcoming collaboration with Netflix focusing on the World Cup.
Lineker, a former star forward for the English national team, helms the widely listened-to podcast, The Rest Is Football. The global streaming service Netflix has secured the rights to broadcast an exclusive partnership featuring the show during the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Lineker will be accompanied by fellow former England internationals Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, in addition to a number of ‘special guests,’ as Netflix ventures further into the domain of original sports programming.
Gary Lineker Scheduled to Cover the World Cup
Prior to departing from the public service broadcaster earlier in the year, Lineker was a consistent presence in BBC Sport’s coverage of major tournaments and would likely have served as its primary presenter for the World Cup.
The arrangement with Netflix was formally communicated on Wednesday, promising a vast amount of content. According to reporting in The Times, the financial terms of the Netflix agreement are “believed to surpass the £1.35 million salary [Lineker] received” for presenting Match of the Day.
Netflix 🤝 The Rest Is FootballWe’re delighted to announce that we’ll be hosting a daily show on @Netflix for the 2026 FIFA World Cup! 🏆@GaryLineker, @AlanShearer & @MicahRichards will be joined by special guests to cover the world’s biggest sporting event 🌎 pic.twitter.com/3wMLlhM6YoDecember 3, 2025
“During the upcoming World Cup this summer, The Rest Is Football will find a new home on Netflix,” Lineker stated.
“Similar to the Euros a few years ago, we intend to deliver daily programs throughout the entire duration of the tournament, with my base of operations being New York City.”
“The show promises all the allure and sophistication of the Big Apple, a characteristic that Micah undoubtedly appreciates.”
“We will also welcome an array of outstanding guests to join us over the course of the summer.”
Lineker guarantees both video and audio versions of the daily show, which will also be accessible through Spotify and Apple Podcasts, in addition to Netflix.
The former striker for Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, recognized as no.6 in FourFourTwo‘s compilation of the most accomplished British players to compete abroad, served as the presenter of Match of the Day for a span of 26 years before his departure from the BBC in May.
He has experienced renewed success in the realm of podcasting, having co-established Goalhanger, the production entity responsible for The Rest Is Football along with its associated programs.
Lineker earned 80 international caps for England, with appearances in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups. He was awarded the Golden Boot for scoring six goals at the 1986 tournament held in Mexico, subsequently amassing a total of 48 goals for his nation.
The forthcoming World Cup is scheduled for June and July of the following year, with matches to be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Participating teams will ascertain their respective opponents this Friday, as FIFA’s customary spectacle and ceremony are temporarily relocated to Washington, D.C. for the World Cup draw.
England and Scotland are placed in Pot 1 and Pot 3, respectively, having secured automatic qualification. The remaining home nations are each tasked with navigating a play-off pathway to secure their places at the finals.
The play-offs are set to occur in March, with semi-final matches pitting Wales against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Ireland against the Czech Republic, and Northern Ireland facing an uphill battle against four-time World Cup champions, Italy.
