Gary Lineker is set to make a special guest appearance on ITV during the World Cup match featuring Germany and Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday night. This marks his return to terrestrial television following his departure from the BBC over a year ago.
The former host of Match of the Day is currently in New York, where he is busy recording daily episodes of The Rest is Football podcast, which will be available on Netflix. He has agreed to make a unique appearance from ITV’s studio located in Brooklyn.
Securing Lineker is a notable achievement for ITV, who, as reported recently, have taken the lead in the television ratings race against the BBC, achieving four of the five highest viewing figures for matches in the tournament’s opening week.
Lineker has a rich history with the World Cup, having presented coverage for six tournaments, more than any other BBC broadcaster. However, he has been vocal in his criticism of the BBC’s strategy for this year’s event, particularly their decision to centralize coverage in Salford.
After 26 years with the BBC, Lineker left in 2025 following ongoing disputes with executives regarding his social media activity and purported violations of the organization’s editorial guidelines.
