Gary Lineker Guests on ITV World Cup Set in New York After BBC Exit

Gary Lineker made a guest appearance on ITV's coverage of the Germany versus Ivory Coast match alongside host Laura Woods and pundits Duncan Ferguson, Gary Neville and Ian Wright. Lineker, 65, who worked at the BBC for 26 years as its highest-paid presenter, said he had been doing a show daily for Netflix at Times Square.

He added that he wanted to see the ITV set because he thought it was absolutely amazing and could confirm that it is real.

Lineker said he had originally planned to anchor the BBC's World Cup coverage this summer but that arrangement did not take place. He noted he would have been in Salford in a green box and instead would be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests. Lineker's BBC tenure ended in May 2025.

GB News reported that the departure followed sustained criticism of his activity on social media, including the sharing of an Instagram image depicting a rat that carried antisemitic connotations. Lineker apologised for the post. After leaving the BBC, Lineker secured a deal with Netflix valued at £14 million to front The Rest Is Football podcast, produced through his company Goalhanger.

BBC host Gabby Logan responded to Lineker's comments. She said the BBC had covered the Women's Euros with a studio in Salford for the early stages before sending presenters to the latter stages of the tournament. Logan stated that taking many people to major tournaments carried high costs and that the licence fee required tighter budgets.

She added that the BBC's coverage had been exceptional and award-winning, including a Bafta last week, and that staying in Salford had not harmed the output. Lineker had previously described the BBC's World Cup studio as a green box in Salford.