Gary Lineker signs Netflix deal for World Cup podcast
Gary Lineker has agreed a multi-million-pound deal with Netflix to front a World Cup edition of his podcast, The Rest Is Football, marking the streaming giant’s most ambitious move yet into sports-related audio programming, reports BritPanorama.
The agreement, expected to be unveiled on Tuesday, will see Netflix acquire rights from Lineker’s production company, Goalhanger, and transform the podcast into a daily show throughout next summer’s tournament in the United States.
The former England striker, long regarded as one of broadcasting’s most bankable figures, is set to earn significantly more under the new arrangement than he did during his tenure at the BBC, where his annual salary stood at £1.35 million. His return to the global football stage via Netflix means he will, in effect, compete directly with the BBC’s own World Cup output, less than a year after leaving the corporation.
The Rest Is Football, currently released three times a week and co-hosted by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, attracts more than eight million viewers on YouTube and maintains a substantial following on Spotify and Apple. Under the Netflix partnership, Shearer and Richards are expected to feature prominently, with plans for an expanded and more intensive production schedule.
One industry source expressed enthusiasm about the deal, saying: “It’s a really exciting deal and Gary is thrilled. It means he will be at the World Cup after all. It’s Netflix’s first real foray into football coverage, with a daily show built around the podcast. This will also introduce Gary to a whole new international audience.”
The deal is also set to involve Lineker’s son, Harry, who works as a producer at Goalhanger and will relocate to the United States for the duration of the tournament. Netflix is said to be placing considerable strategic weight on its podcast division from 2026 onwards as it intensifies its challenge to YouTube’s dominance in the digital content market.
The move comes months after Lineker’s departure from the BBC, following a social media post about Zionism that included a rat emoji. The post drew criticism because the symbol has historically been used in antisemitic contexts. Lineker later stated he had not noticed the emoji when sharing the content, apologised for any offence caused and confirmed he had parted company with the broadcaster by mutual agreement.
His exit marked the culmination of repeated tensions with BBC management over impartiality rules, which he had frequently tested through outspoken commentary on political and human rights issues. The 65-year-old presenter has long argued that he should be free to express personal views on his social media platforms.
In 2023, he was briefly taken off air after comparing the Government’s asylum language to rhetoric used in 1930s Germany, prompting an unprecedented on-air boycott by Shearer and Ian Wright. Match of the Day was broadcast that weekend with no presenters and no post-match analysis.
Netflix hopes the combination of Lineker’s global profile, the show’s established chemistry and the momentum of a World Cup year will help propel its podcasts into a more competitive position. Meanwhile, England and Scotland will find out their opponents for the tournament on Friday. Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will be hoping to join them at next summer’s huge event.
The intertwining of sport and media continues to captivate, especially as familiar faces transition platforms, sparking curiosity about how these new dynamics will reshape coverage and viewer engagement. With Lineker’s charismatic presence leading the charge, the World Cup promises not only footballing drama but also a compelling media narrative waiting to unfold.
