Full Breakdown
Gary Lineker’s Podcast Empire Moves to Netflix Amid Growing Football Media Rivalry
8/26/2026, 6:29:54 AM
Lineker’s Netflix Deal and Its Immediate Impact
Gary Lineker, former Match of the Day presenter and co-founder of the Goalhanger podcast stable, secured a new partnership that makes his football-analysis show “The Rest Is Football” a regular fixture on Netflix. The series entered Netflix’s daily top-10 chart for every day of its 40-episode World Cup run, prompting the streaming service to extend the collaboration into the domestic season. The programme now attracts more than seven million monthly streams, a figure Lineker highlighted when comparing his operation to rival podcasts.
The Expanding Landscape of Football Podcasts
The deal arrives as football punditry podcasts have become a major alternative to costly live-sport rights. Lineker’s main competition includes Gary Neville’s “The Overlap” network, which recently signed a similar arrangement with Disney, and Piers Morgan’s “World Cup Uncensored” show. Lineker has publicly noted the rivalry as good-natured, describing the competing teams as “trailing in our wake” while acknowledging ample room for multiple voices in the market.
Audience Reach and Performance Metrics
- 40-day World Cup episode run: daily top-10 placement on Netflix.
- Over 7 million monthly streams for “The Rest Is Football” last season.
- Goalhanger’s podcast portfolio now spans several shows, positioning it as a leading football-content provider on streaming platforms.
Lineker’s Public Remarks on Competition and Politics
During an appearance at the Edinburgh TV festival, Lineker said he admires Roy Keane’s “box-office” appeal and joked that Keane would be a dream guest for his show. He also explained why he continues to comment on political matters, stating that humanitarian concerns—such as the situation in Gaza—prompt him to use his expanded platform, even though he generally avoids overt political discussion.
Criticism Over Recent Political Posting
The Telegraph recently criticized Lineker for reposting a video of activist Tony Greenstein, who had been cleared of encouraging support for Hamas. The newspaper argued that Lineker’s sharing of the material was inappropriate, highlighting the tension between his media role and political commentary.
