In a move that’s set to reshape the football media landscape, Netflix has announced a landmark deal to bring the hit podcast “The Rest Is Football,” hosted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, to its platform as a daily TV show during next summer’s World Cup in North America. The transition, revealed on December 7, 2025, marks a dramatic upgrade from the podcast’s humble beginnings—where the trio connected via video calls from their homes—to a polished, state-of-the-art studio in New York City.
This change isn’t just about swapping homey banter for glitzy lights. According to BBC News, Netflix’s move is designed to boost production quality and create a more immersive experience for viewers. Reporters will beam in live updates from the England camp and fan zones, though, notably, there’s been no mention of similar coverage for Scotland, another World Cup qualifier. The show won’t feature live match broadcasts, as those rights remain with BBC and ITV, but it aims to deliver the kind of behind-the-scenes access and fan engagement that’s become a hallmark of the podcast’s appeal.
So, why the big leap to Netflix—and why now? The streaming giant has made no secret of its ambition to challenge YouTube in the burgeoning world of video podcasting. Laura Fisher, an audio and entertainment analyst at MIDiA Research, described the deal as “a significant milestone for both sports and video podcasting,” highlighting the shift from audio-only formats to video-driven content. Netflix’s commitment to expanding its podcast offerings, especially in sports, pop culture, and true crime, is all part of a broader effort to attract new audiences and keep viewers glued to its platform, Fisher told BBC News.
For Gary Lineker, this partnership could be a game-changer. The former England striker has long been a household name in the UK, thanks to his 26-year tenure as the host of BBC’s Match of the Day and his work as a football pundit. But after stepping down from the BBC show following a social media controversy—he shared a post about Zionism that some interpreted as antisemitic—Lineker found himself at a professional crossroads. “I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic,” he said at the time, but added, “stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.” The fallout led to calls from advocacy groups, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism, for the BBC to cut ties with him, which ultimately paved the way for his new venture with Netflix.
Now, with “The Rest Is Football” set to air globally on Netflix, Lineker is poised to reach audiences far beyond the UK. “For [Lineker] to be able to cement himself within that, kind of riding the crest of that wave, I think is going to be really, really helpful for his career,” said Minal Modha from Ampere Analysis, pointing to the surging popularity of football among American sports fans. Micah Richards, already a familiar face in the US thanks to his punditry on CBS, stands to benefit as well. Paolo Pescatore, a technology and media analyst at PP Foresight, agreed: “This move will firmly put Lineker on the global stage.”
The financial stakes are just as high. Reports in The Sun suggest the Netflix deal dwarfs the £1.35 million annual salary Lineker received from the BBC, which had topped the corporation’s publicly disclosed pay list. While neither Netflix nor Goalhanger—the production company co-founded by Lineker—has disclosed exact figures, Fisher believes it’s safe to guess that Goalhanger will “make more than the £1.35m” from this new arrangement. In fact, the company’s accounts show a dramatic rise in retained earnings, from about £590,000 to £2.03 million in the year to April 2024, with cash in the bank jumping from £560,000 to over £2.7 million. Revenue streams include advertising, subscriptions, and live show ticket sales, according to former MP Rory Stewart, who co-hosts another Goalhanger podcast, “The Rest Is Politics.”
But with big money comes big expectations—and, sometimes, skepticism. “I think fans are going to be a little bit sceptical, I think they always are, [when] big money comes onto the table,” Modha cautioned in her interview with BBC News. She added that Lineker “is not going to want to alienate his fan base,” and suggested the format could evolve to include celebrity guests or appeal to a broader, less football-centric audience. Some listeners have already voiced concerns about the podcast’s growing number of advertisements, with one reviewer quipping, “The rest is adverts.” Still, the show’s popularity is undeniable: it claims seven million monthly listeners and regularly ranks among the top podcasts in the UK on Spotify.
For Lineker, the move to Netflix is as much about creative freedom as it is about reach or revenue. Speaking to the Standard, he reflected on his BBC departure: “I was going to finish on the World Cup on BBC so that’s the only thing. And actually, now I’m free to do what I want at the World Cup, which I think is great because we’ll do a podcast every day.” No more “treading on eggshells” regarding what he can say on social media, he added, referencing the BBC’s strict impartiality rules.
The story of “The Rest Is Football” is, in many ways, the story of Goalhanger’s meteoric rise. Founded by Lineker in 2014 to produce sports documentaries, the company pivoted to podcasts and now boasts five of the top 10 most-listened-to UK podcasts on Spotify. Its south London headquarters may be modest, but its ambitions are anything but. The Observer’s football correspondent, Rory Smith, praised Lineker’s “forward-thinking, progressive and imaginative” approach, noting that the Netflix deal could set a blueprint for others in the industry. “Once the World Cup begins, there will be a real scramble to get viewers’ attention in such a saturated market,” Smith observed. With competitors like Gary Neville’s “The Overlap” also pushing innovative content, the pressure—and the opportunity—are immense.
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup begins, all eyes will be on Lineker, Shearer, and Richards as they bring their signature blend of football insight, humor, and camaraderie to a global audience. Whether “The Rest Is Football” can replicate its podcast success on the world’s biggest streaming stage remains to be seen. But with Netflix’s backing and a rapidly growing international fan base, the odds seem firmly in their favor.
For Lineker and his team, the next chapter starts in New York—and for football fans everywhere, the beautiful game just got a little closer.
