London, December 08, 2025
Gary Lineker’s media company, Goalhanger, has secured a major partnership with Netflix to produce a daily World Cup show based on their rapidly expanding sports podcast, The Rest Is Football. This deal marks a pivotal shift from traditional audio podcasts into a hybrid video-podcast format designed for global streaming during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Netflix agreement transforms The Rest Is Football from a popular audio podcast into a platform-agnostic offering, blending audio and video content to reach diverse international audiences. Goalhanger plans to produce dedicated programming in multiple locations, including an upcoming New York-based show for the next World Cup, underscoring its ambitions for global content dominance.
Gary Lineker’s established reputation as a leading football presenter, combined with the podcast’s strong listener base — featuring co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards — provides a credible foundation for this expansion. Since its 2023 launch, the podcast has garnered a loyal following for its football analysis and topical discussions.
Innovative Format and Strategic Positioning
This development represents an evolution in sports media, where the hybrid video-podcast format aligns with current content consumption trends. By partnering with Netflix, Goalhanger accesses one of the world’s preeminent streaming platforms, leveraging its massive global reach and expertise in delivering video content to multi-million viewers.
The deal positions Lineker and Goalhanger among emerging leaders in the “podcast super league,” a growing arena where premium sports podcasts merge with high-quality video production to capture football audiences around marquee events.
Challenges and Market Context
Despite favorable factors, maintaining sustained engagement beyond football’s peak events remains a challenge amid fierce competition from other sports content creators. Continuous innovation in content delivery and format will be essential to preserving audience interest and expanding viewership.
Background
Gary Lineker, known widely for his sports presenting on BBC’s Match of the Day, has effectively translated his media presence into the digital domain through Goalhanger. Its pivot to video podcasting reflects broader shifts in sports media, where audiences demand flexible, multi-platform access to content.
The Netflix World Cup daily show represents a significant milestone in this trajectory, as Goalhanger exploits the synergies between traditional sports broadcasting experience and new digital streaming opportunities.
The success of The Rest Is Football under this model will be closely watched as an indicator of how sports podcasts can evolve into multimedia franchises capable of commanding global digital audiences.