Gary Lineker Takes “The Rest is Football” Podcast to Netflix for 2026 World Cup

Former footballer and broadcaster Gary Lineker has some exciting news for fans of his podcast, The Rest is Football. Lineker, along with fellow football stars Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, has signed a deal with Netflix to bring their podcast to viewers during next year’s World Cup.

Originally scheduled to cover the tournament for the BBC, Lineker made the decision to leave the corporation in May earlier than planned after a controversy involving a social media post. The Rest is Football podcast, which currently releases three episodes a week, will now air daily on Netflix throughout the World Cup.

This partnership marks Netflix’s first major step into football coverage and adds to their expanding podcast lineup, positioning them as a competitor to platforms like YouTube. Lineker expressed his excitement about the deal, calling it a “fantastic opportunity for the three of us to do what we love – talk football every day – but on a truly global stage.”

The visualised podcast will feature game analysis, special guests, interviews, and insights into the biggest sporting event in the world, taking place in the US, Canada, and Mexico. While the show will be filmed in a New York studio, reporters will also provide updates from the England camp and fan zones.

In addition to the Netflix deal, Lineker will be hosting a new game show on ITV called The Box, where celebrities will face challenges in unexpected locations. This announcement comes after Lineker won the Best TV Presenter award at the National Television Awards, breaking Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak.

Lineker’s departure from the BBC was a result of backlash he received for a social media post related to Zionism. Despite claiming he did not see the image and never intended to share anything antisemitic, Lineker acknowledged the mistake and decided to step back from his role at the BBC.

Even with all these changes, fans can still catch a version of The Rest is Football on audio platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts during the World Cup. This exciting collaboration between Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, and Netflix is sure to provide football enthusiasts with plenty of analysis, entertainment, and laughs during the upcoming tournament.