Gary Lineker Leaves BBC for Netflix Podcast Ahead of 2026 World Cup

After a 2025 Instagram post that featured a rat emoji—widely recognized as an anti-Semitic symbol—Gary Lineker’s long-standing role at the BBC ended abruptly. Within weeks, he secured a partnership with Netflix to present a daily version of his “The Rest Is Football” podcast from Times Square, New York, for the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The deal outlines 40 episodes broadcast over 40 consecutive days.

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Lineker’s post triggered the BBC’s newly-tightened social-media code of conduct, which he described as “moving the goalposts” and said forced him to “walk on eggshells.” He likened his tenure to a “long marriage that just petered out,” noting that the episode intensified existing tensions and prompted his decision to leave.

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2025 – Instagram post and BBC departure.

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10 June 2026 – Netflix launches the daily podcast.

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The series will run for 40 days, marking Lineker’s 11th consecutive World Cup involvement, and will be produced while the tournament unfolds across three host nations.

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The move from the BBC to Netflix, a global streaming platform, underscores tensions between editorial oversight and presenter autonomy, potentially reshaping football coverage norms and influencing future contracts for high-profile sports journalists.

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Lineker says he feels liberated after leaving the BBC and no longer must monitor his language. He expressed surprise at the BBC’s decision not to go to the United States, Canada and Mexico, citing pressure from lobby groups.

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The rat-emoji post drew criticism from social-media users and right-wing outlets, who accused Lineker of insensitivity. He acknowledged “lot of pressure, lobby pressure” surrounding the episode.

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The BBC has not released an official comment, leaving the exact reasons for Lineker’s departure unverified.

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• “I’m surprised the BBC is not going,” he tells *The i Paper*. “I don’t know whether it’s costs or pressure because they’re always fighting against that but I know if I was presenting I would have been arguing the case to go.” — Gary Lineker, Former BBC Presenter

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• “I feel liberated,” he says of life post-BBC. “I don’t have to tread on eggshells anymore because I’m not part of that thing.” — Gary Lineker, Podcast Host

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• “This one is unique because I can’t remember the host country being at war with one of the competing nations. So that’s something that is worrying and Trump is so unpredictable,” — Gary Lineker, Commentator

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• “It was murder, absolute murder,” — Gary Lineker, Recalling 1986 World Cup heat

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*The Rest Is Football* launches on Netflix on 10 June, delivering daily episodes throughout the tournament. Lineker will report from New York while the BBC’s coverage plans remain uncertain.

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