Gary Lineker, a renowned sports presenter and former footballer, is set to receive a significant financial boost at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This comes after reports in November that Lineker was on the verge of signing a lucrative deal with Netflix for streaming rights to his podcast, "The Rest Is Football." The agreement has been reached and an official announcement from Netflix is imminent.
According to The Sun, this new deal with Netflix will surpass Lineker's previous contract with the BBC where he was their highest-paid presenter earning £1.35 million per year. As part of this new agreement, "The Rest Is Football" will transition from its current schedule of three shows per week to become a daily fixture.
This multi-million pound deal inked by Gary Lineker with Netflix for the streaming rights of his podcast, The Rest Is Football, comes with several notable features. Firstly, co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards are set to play prominent roles in the podcast during the World Cup. Secondly, this deal is expected to reach an audience upwards of eight million, significantly expanding its current listener base. Lastly, this agreement represents a significant blow to BBC who failed to secure the rights to Lineker's hit show following his controversial departure from the network.
From BBC Sounds to various platforms
While still employed by BBC, "The Rest Is Football" was hosted on BBC Sounds. However, following his exit from the network under controversial circumstances last May amid an anti-semitism row over re-sharing a pro-Gaza video likening supporters of Israel as rats - an image historically used as antisemitic propaganda - it became available on various platforms including Spotify and YouTube.
Lineker did not receive any payout upon his departure from BBC after serving them for 25 years which ended dramatically due to these controversies. Lineker along with co-hosts Shearer and Richards are expected have plenty of content once next year’s World Cup kicks off on June 11th. The tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will run until the final on July 19th.
This new deal marks a significant milestone in Lineker's career as he transitions from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms. It also signifies Netflix's continued investment in sports content and its commitment to providing diverse and engaging programming for its global audience.
