Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker will join Alan Shearer and Micah Richards in covering the World Cup on Netflix rather than the BBC this summer.
Gary Lineker will cover the World Cup on Netflix rather than the BBC this summer (Image: Rest is Football/YouTube)
Gary Lineker has no regrets about quitting the BBC ahead of the World Cup, insisting he is relishing the prospect of being on a ground in the United States rather than the “green box in Salford”.
The 65-year-old was the face of Match of the Day for a generation before announcing his plans to step down in November 2024. He had intended to remain at the company, leading the press corps for the FA Cup and this summer’s World Cup, before stepping down earlier than planned at the end of the 2024-25 season following an anti-Semitic uproar after he re-shared social media posts.
Lineker has since enjoyed success in the podcast industry, with his popular show The Rest Is Football being acquired by Netflix for £14 million.
The show, which also stars Lineker’s former Match of the Day colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will be broadcast daily on the streaming giant covering the World Cup this summer. And Mr Lineker is looking forward to being based in New York’s Times Square rather than Salford, with his former employers saving money by staying in the UK.
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“I was originally scheduled to appear on the BBC this summer, but that didn’t happen, so I ended up in a green box in Salford and now I’ll be in New York City, overlooking Times Square, with a bunch of great guests,” Lineker said at the launch of Netflix’s Sports Club.
Mr Lineker, Mr Shearer and Mr Richards previously covered Euro 2024 in Berlin, but this year’s edition of the World Cup, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, will attract a lot of attention from Netflix’s global audience.
The former England striker took a dig at himself during the Euros, saying England “played badly” after their 1-1 draw with Denmark.
But Lineker said he had no intention of holding back and would continue to share his honest views on Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards present ‘The Rest Is Football’ ahead of the World Cup (Image: The Rest Is Football / YouTube)
“Alan, Micah and myself are fans too and will be rooting for England, but when you care so much you can be probably more critical of your own team than anyone else,” he continued, as reported by The Times.
“There was a bit of a fuss during the Euros when I said ‘England played shitty’ and they did. It wouldn’t have made the headlines if I said England played badly. I only said that because it bothered me because it was an excruciating game and England were lucky to get a goal.”
“We have to tell it like it is and we will continue to do that and I hope we don’t have to say things like that.
“Sports is real drama. It’s different from anything else. It’s just real drama, especially the World Cup. The emotion of the World Cup, rooting for your team, and it’s patriotism in a good way, is very important to people.”
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