Gary Lineker embraces new role in World Cup coverage from New York
Gary Lineker has declared he harbours no regrets about his departure from the BBC ahead of this summer’s World Cup, taking a pointed swipe at the corporation’s coverage arrangements, reports BritPanorama.
The former Match of the Day presenter will broadcast from a prime Manhattan location rather than remaining on British soil with his erstwhile colleagues. “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 and now I’m going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests,” Lineker remarked at the Netflix Sports Club launch.
The BBC has opted to base its World Cup operation in Salford as a cost-cutting measure, prompting Lineker’s shift to a more glamorous setting.
Now 65, Lineker served as the face of Match of the Day for an entire generation before revealing his intention to step down in November 2024. His premature exit followed a controversy surrounding an antisemitism row after he reshared a social media post. Despite this, he has found considerable success in podcasting. Netflix acquired The Rest Is Football, which he hosts alongside former Match of the Day colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, for £14 million.
The podcast will broadcast daily throughout the World Cup, offering extensive coverage of the tournament being staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Netflix’s global reach means the trio will command a substantially larger audience than their previous collaboration, further elevating their profile.
Lineker, Shearer, and Richards previously worked together covering Euro 2024 from Berlin, establishing their on-screen chemistry ahead of this summer’s expanded venture. The streaming platform’s acquisition represents a significant investment in football content, positioning the former England striker and his co-hosts at the heart of World Cup coverage for viewers worldwide.
Lineker has made clear he will not temper his forthright commentary style when assessing Thomas Tuchel’s England squad this summer. The former striker caused a stir during Euro 2024 when he declared that England “played s***” following their lacklustre 1-1 draw against Denmark. “There was a bit of furore during the Euros when I said ‘England played s***’. And they did,” he explained. “I only said it because I cared because it was excruciating and England got lucky with their goal.”
He emphasised that genuine passion for the national team naturally breeds sharper criticism, stating, “You have to tell it as it is and we continue to do that.”
With his move to New York and a growing platform at Netflix, Lineker encapsulates the evolving media landscape in sports coverage — a reminder of how even legends adapt in pursuit of greater connection with audiences worldwide.
