Lineker Signs £14M Netflix Deal for 2026 World Cup Show

Gary Lineker, the former BBC Match of the Day presenter, announced a multimillion-pound deal with Netflix to host daily World Cup coverage next summer from New York City, highlighting a stark contrast to the BBC's cost-saving studio setup in Salford, England.

The 64-year-old Lineker, joined by former colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will front "The Rest is Football" podcast-turned-show throughout the 2026 tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Netflix acquired the program for 14 million pounds, with episodes streaming daily and featuring additional guests hosted by Alex Aljoe and Rob Jones. Speaking at the launch of Netflix's Sports Club in London, Lineker expressed enthusiasm for the venture. "I was originally going to do it for the BBC, this summer, but that didn't transpire and I would have been in Salford in a green box," he said. "Now I'm going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests."

Lineker's move follows his departure from the BBC at the end of the 2024-25 season, earlier than initially planned. He had been scheduled to lead coverage of the FA Cup and the World Cup but left after a controversy over...