Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer are set to team up on The Rest Is Football for this summer’s World Cup in North America, but a recent BBC revelation could complicate matters
The BBC will not use licence money to help Micah Richards and Alan Shearer work on The Rest Is Football with Gary Lineker at this summer’s World Cup. The BBC’s main presentation of the event will be broadcast from its studios in Salford due to financial constraints and environmental considerations.
And while Richards will have a leading role in the wake of Lineker’s departure from the BBC last year, his commitment to his Goalhanger podcast with former Match of the Day colleagues, Lineker and Shearer may take a hit given it will be presented from New York.
For Euro 2024, the at the time BBC trio recorded their episodes of TRIF in Berlin, but the corporation’s decision to remain on home soil for the World Cup, as well as Lineker’s exit, have created issues in terms of how they will film together at this summer’s tournament.
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While the BBC has told pundits that they are free to work on other media projects for the World Cup, they will not subsidise the cost of doing so. As a result, Richards and Shearer may have to see their travel costs and arrangements met by Goalhanger or Netflix, who agreed a £14million deal to broadcast the podcast on its platforms last month.
Given Shearer will be based in North America on co-commentary duties for the BBC, and could meet-up with Lineker in person for The Rest Is Football throughout the tournament, Richards may have to tap into any recordings via other means.
That ultimately should not be an issue for the former Manchester City star, however, considering a portion of the podcast’s episodes are not recorded in-studio, with Lineker, Shearer and Richards teaming up on a video call to contribute.
Current Match of the Day trilogy, Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan are expected to be based in Salford and take on the brunt of the BBC’s presenting duties for the World Cup, but may travel to North America in the late stages of the tournament to present from the scene.
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While Lineker was initially set to step down from presenting Match of the Day at the end of 2024/25, but host the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup for the BBC, plans changed in May, when the 65-year-old was caught up in a Zionism row online.
Lineker found himself on the receiving end of criticism online after sharing a social media post on Zionism which included the illustration of a rat – something which has been historically used as an anti-Semitic insult.
While Lineker explained that he hadn’t spotted the picture, and wouldn’t have shared the post if he had, he conceded that he should have been more vigilant before reposting it on social media.
He added: “However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
As a result, not only did Lineker step down from his presenting duties on Match of the Day, but also cut ties with the BBC altogether, forfeiting the opportunity to work at the 2026 World Cup for the broadcaster.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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