Former Match of the Day presenter, Gary Lineker, is predicted to make a significant comeback in 2026. Despite his departure from BBC, reports suggest that he is on the verge of signing a major deal with Netflix ahead of the World Cup 2026.
Lineker's journey towards the World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems promising. This comes as a surprise following his early exit from BBC due to backlash over a social media post. Originally scheduled to lead BBC's coverage of the upcoming men's international football tournament, Lineker had stepped down from his iconic role as Match of The Day host after serving for an impressive span of 26 years.
Triumph at NTAs and potential Netflix deal
The veteran presenter recently ended Ant & Dec's long-standing winning streak at National Television Awards (NTAs) by bagging the Presenter award in September. Now it appears that he could still be heading to cover World Cup despite leaving BBC. According to Daily Mail reports, Lineker is likely to sign a lucrative deal with streaming giant Netflix which will see him hosting 'The Rest Is Football' podcast live from North America during the tournament.
'The Rest Is Football', co-hosted by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards under Lineker’s production company Goalhanger, has seen considerable success since its inception. Initially aired on BBC Sounds, it has now found its home on YouTube where it continues gaining popularity among football enthusiasts worldwide.
In an unprecedented move last summer during Club World Cup coverage, 'The Rest Is Football' partnered with DAZN offering deeper insights into matches including highlights - marking this as one-of-a-kind podcasting firsts.
Future collaboration with Netflix
Now there are speculations about another potential collaboration between 'The Rest Is Football' and mainstream broadcaster Netflix. This partnership could potentially offer similar in-depth coverage for the World Cup 2026, providing fans with a unique perspective on the tournament.
However, it remains unclear whether Shearer and Richards, both of whom have previously worked with BBC on different tournaments, will be part of this new venture.
Gary Lineker's journey from being a celebrated Match of The Day host to potentially leading a groundbreaking podcast coverage for World Cup 2026 is nothing short of inspiring. His potential collaboration with Netflix not only marks an exciting chapter in his career but also promises to bring fresh and engaging content for sports fans worldwide.
