Gary Lineker is set to make a special guest appearance on ITV during the World Cup coverage of the match between Germany and Côte d’Ivoire this Saturday evening. This will mark his first return to terrestrial television since his departure from the BBC 13 months ago.
The former host of Match of the Day is currently in New York, where he is recording daily episodes of his podcast, The Rest is Football, which is available on Netflix. He has agreed to participate in a one-time event at ITV’s Brooklyn studio.
Securing Lineker represents a significant achievement for ITV, which, as reported, has gained an early advantage in the television ratings competition against the BBC, having secured four of the five highest viewership figures for matches in the tournament’s opening week.
Lineker has hosted coverage for six World Cups while at the BBC, more than any other presenter in the organization’s history. However, he has expressed strong criticism regarding his former employer’s handling of this World Cup, particularly their choice to base coverage in Salford.
After 26 years with the BBC, Lineker exited in 2025 following ongoing conflicts with management over his use of social media and perceived violations of editorial guidelines.
