Gary Lineker has no regrets about not presenting the 2026 World Cup for the BBC

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

Gary Lineker has no regrets about not presenting the 2026 World Cup for the BBC as his new project will allow him to present for Netflix from Times Square in New York City.

The footballer-turned-broadcaster left the BBC and his gig as presenter of Match of the Day in May of 2025, having previously been announced as the presenter of the 2026 World Cup coverage.

He has acted as a presenter for the BBC at every major tournament this century and his presence will continue for 2026, though on Netflix as he will present a daily edition of his The Rest is Football podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

To cut costs, the BBC will present coverage from a studio in Salford.

“I was originally going to do it for the BBC, this summer, but that didn’t transpire and I would have been in Salford in a green box and now I’m going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests,” Lineker said at the launch of Netflix’s Sports Club.

During the European Championships two years ago, Lineker caused a bit of a media storm when he said on his podcast that England "played sh*t" in a fixture against Denmark.

He says it was uttered out of passion for The Three Lions.

“With us — Alan, Micah and myself — we are also fans and we will all be cheering England, but sometimes when you care that much you are probably more critical of your own team than anybody else.

“There was a bit of furore during the Euros when I said, ‘England played sh*t’. And they did. If I said England had played really poorly it wouldn’t have made headlines. I only said it because I cared because it was excruciating and England got lucky with their goal.

“You have to tell it as it is and we continue to do that, and hopefully I won’t have to say anything like that.

“Sport is real-life drama. It is different to anything else. It is genuinely real drama and particularly World Cups. The emotions of the World Cup, you cheer your team on and it is patriotism in a good way, and it matters so much to people.”

The Rest is Football will be broadcast globally on Netflix every day during the World Cup.

Lineker names his World Cup favourites

Lineker doesn't believe England are favourites to win the World Cup but reckons they are in the top five best teams heading into the tournament.

England haven't won the World Cup since 1966 as their second title has eluded them for over half a century. Still, with the abundance of talent in the squad, Thomas Tuchel's men will likely be a force to be reckoned with in North America.

Lineker thinks that Spain are the favourites, however.

"The World Cup is getting very close now. I know Spain are actually the bookies’ favourites, closely followed by England, France, Argentina and Brazil. I think they’re the big five," he said on the Rest is Football podcast.

"France have got a hell of a squad, haven’t they? They have an amazing squad, but I’m going to go with Spain. I think they could do a repeat of what they did a decade or so ago and win consecutive tournaments. I mean, they’ve got some players, Spain.

"I think Spain have to be the team to beat, Obviously, we’d all love England to win. Portugal could be a decent outside bet as well. They will have to control the narrative around [Cristiano] Ronaldo and manage his minutes and see if he accepts that. That will be important for them. But they have got some cracking players.

"I think it’s a good outside bet, Portugal. Also, don’t rule out Argentina and even Brazil. But I’m going with Spain. England are definitely one of the frontrunners but I think Spain have to be favourites ahead of us, personally I think France too.

"I think in recent tournaments, the English team has progressed sufficiently to have a chance of winning it. But I can’t remember any of us actually predicting England to win a tournament for a while."

Spain head into the tournament as reigning European Championship winners, having claimed that title in 2024 after defeating England in the final.