Overview
- Lineker appeared on ITV's pre-match coverage for Germany v Ivory Coast on Saturday and took part in the build-up for about 20 minutes before leaving prior to kick-off.
- He continues to record The Rest Is Football daily from Times Square for Netflix under a widely reported but not independently verified deal and used the ITV slot to promote his upcoming ITV show The Box.
- Multiple outlets and insiders described the ITV slot as a guest or pundit cameo rather than a full-time role and said his Netflix agreement is not believed to bar such one-off appearances.
- The cameo amplified comparisons between broadcasters because ITV is operating an on-site New York studio while the BBC is presenting from Salford with virtual backdrops, and ITV has led early viewing figures.
- The move underlines growing presenter mobility across commercial and public platforms after Lineker left the BBC in May 2025 following criticism of his social media posts and signals potential for more cross-platform appearances that could further shift audience and commercial dynamics.