EMBARGOED TO 0001 TUESDAY JUNE 9 File photo dated 11/04/26 of Gary Lineker, who has said his marriage with the BBC had started to run out of love by the time he left the corporation. The former England footballer, 65, was the presenter of BBCs Match Of The Day for 26 years until he stepped down in May last year following criticism over him airing his political opinions on social media. Issue date: Tuesday June 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ben Whitley/PA Wire Credit: PAGARY Lineker is set to make a shock appearance for ITV’s World Cup coverage after working at rivals BBC for decades.
The former striker and host could play a part for the channel on Saturday evening.
Gary Lineker could make a shock appearance on ITV’s World Cup coverage on Saturday Credit: PA
Like ITV, Lineker has taken his Rest is Football podcast to North America for the World Cup Credit: PA
The Sun understands , 65, is going to make a guest appearance during Germany’s Group E clash against Ivory Coast in Canada.
Coverage of the game will begin at 8pm in the UK with kick-off coming an hour later at the Toronto Stadium.
The Sun has contacted and Lineker’s representatives for comment.
Lineker is not presenting the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup this as he left the organisation last year, putting an end to his 26-year Match of the Day career.
He was due to anchor the showpiece tournament for the Beeb until he
Instead, he is now in North America with his podcast company , which produces popular shows including “The Rest is History” and “The Rest is Politics”.
Gary himself, alongside and Micah Richards, host “The Rest is Football” podcast, which has been that looks at the biggest talking points from across the tournament.
In April, Lineker boasted about his dismissal freeing him up to spend the World Cup “overlooking Times Square” to televise the podcast instead of being in “Salford in a green box”.
The 65-year-old claimed the was prior to the tournament.
Lineker said previously: “I am very surprised the Beeb are not coming. It doesn’t make sense to me.
He went on to add: “It will probably get the vast majority of the most watched television programmes of the year. Almost certainly therefore it justifies a presence.
“And they [the BBC] will cover it fine… but I have done many shows when we have not been able to go to tournaments and you are in a green box.
“Even if it looks like you are not at home – you are. And it’s soulless.”
Meanwhile, for the duration of the tournament.
The ITV Sport studio is located on a rooftop in Brooklyn with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.
Meanwhile, the set for The Rest is Football is based in Manhattan with the main backdrop for the show resembling a loft apartment with views of the iconic Times Square.
Around 50 members of staff – many of whom are US nationals – have been working on the production.
, using an LED backdrop that switches between images of the 16 host cities in until the quarter-final stage.
The huge 360 degree screen will create the illusion that the studio overlooks whichever of the host cities a match is being broadcast from across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
To simulate real-time environments, the team will use dynamic city photographs that adjust for time of day and weather.
The BBC opted for this “remote working” setup to save licence-fee payers’ money ahead of major budget cuts before the 2028 Royal Charter.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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