Gary Lineker, a legendary football presenter, has signed a new contract with the BBC that will keep him with the network through the 2026 World Cup. While he will be stepping down from hosting Match of the Day after 26 years, Lineker will continue to be a prominent figure in BBC Sports coverage.
The BBC confirmed that Lineker will front their coverage of the FA Cup 2025/2026 and continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast. Additionally, the network will now host “The Rest is Football” podcast on BBC Sounds, featuring Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards. This marks the first time the popular podcast will be available on the BBC’s audio platform, with one episode per week planned starting next month.
Lineker entered negotiations with the BBC’s new head of sport in October, and while he was open to continuing with Match of the Day, the BBC did not offer him a new contract for the show. However, both parties are now satisfied with the new agreement.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, praised Lineker as a world-class presenter, expressing delight that he will lead coverage of the next World Cup and continue with live FA Cup coverage. Former BBC director general Greg Dyke described Lineker as “the outstanding sports presenter of his time,” acknowledging that presenters don’t stay forever.
At 63 years old, Lineker has been hosting Match of the Day since 1999 and will have held the position for 26 years when he leaves at the end of the Premier League season in May 2025. He is one of the BBC’s best-known presenters and highest-paid stars, earning more than £1.3m annually.
The contract comes after a controversial period last year when Lineker was briefly suspended for a social media post about UK asylum policy. This led to a review of BBC social media guidelines, which concluded that high-profile presenters can express views on issues and policies while avoiding political campaigning.
Before his broadcasting career, Lineker was a successful striker for England and several top clubs, including Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Barcelona. He has also worked with other sports networks like NBC and BT Sport.
Alastair Campbell, who co-presents The Rest Is Politics podcast, described Lineker as “an excellent broadcaster and a very good guy” and noted he would be “a very hard act to follow.”
While Lineker’s departure from Match of the Day represents a significant change, the BBC remains committed to the show, which attracted 33 million viewers last season. The network has stated that future plans for the program will be announced in due course.
Lineker himself expressed delight in continuing his long association with BBC Sport, thanking those who made the new agreement possible.
