Gary Lineker is making a surprising return to British TV for the World Cup, just 13 months after leaving the BBC.
Gary Lineker is making a surprising return to British TV for the World Cup, just over a year after leaving the BBC under tricky circumstances.
Lineker had been the main BBC presenter for the tournament and was expected to cover this World Cup in North America as well. But his 26-year run with the BBC ended early in May 2025 after they agreed to part ways following backlash over a social media post some called antisemitic.
Since then, Lineker has found great success with his Rest is Football podcast, which airs daily on Netflix during the tournament thanks to a £14 million deal with his company, Goalhanger.
He’s been hosting the show from a stylish New York City studio, joined by regulars Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, plus guests like Harry Maguire, Niall Horan, and Frank Lampard.
In a surprise move, The Athletic reports that Lineker will appear on ITV’s World Cup coverage – a rival to the BBC. While the BBC broadcasts from Media City in Salford, ITV has set up a fancy New York studio with the Manhattan skyline behind it.
ITV’s star pundits include Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane, who also run the Stick to Football podcast, competing with Lineker’s show. Since Lineker lives near ITV’s Brooklyn base, he’s expected to join their coverage of the Germany vs. Ivory Coast match in Toronto on Saturday, but details about his role haven’t been shared yet.
Lineker has worked with ITV before, hosting the quiz show Sitting on a Fortune in 2021. After leaving the BBC, there were reports he’d signed with ITV for more projects. He’s also worked for NBC Sports, beIN Sports, TNT Sports, and La Liga TV.
Last season, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan shared Match of the Day hosting duties after Lineker’s departure.
The controversy that led to Lineker stepping back happened when he reposted a video about Zionism from an account called ‘Palestine Lobby’ that included a cartoon rat — a symbol used as a slur against Jewish people in Nazi Germany. He apologized fully, saying it wasn’t intentional and decided to take a break.
Lineker said, “I would never knowingly repost anything antisemitic — it goes against everything I believe. But I understand the mistake and upset caused, and I’m truly sorry. Stepping back feels like the right thing to do.”
Other well-known sports personalities like Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Micah Richards, and Karen Carney have also worked for both BBC and ITV.