Netflix to stream daily football show for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Netflix is making a bold move into the realm of live sports broadcasting by partnering with the popular football podcast, *The Rest Is Football*, to create a daily TV show during the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. This collaboration was announced on Wednesday and will feature football legends Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards as hosts, bringing their engaging podcast format to a global audience from a New York studio. The World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will see these icons provide match commentary, insider insights, and entertaining interviews, all while maintaining the light-hearted banter that fans love. Lineker expressed excitement over the opportunity, stating, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the three of us to do what we love — talk football every day — but on a truly global stage.”
This venture is part of Netflix’s broader strategy to enhance its sports broadcasting portfolio, following successful live events such as the Netflix Cup golf tournament and various boxing matches. The streaming giant is not alone in this competitive arena; rivals like Apple and Amazon are also investing heavily in sports content to attract viewers. With *The Rest Is Football* being one of the top sports podcasts globally—boasting over 7 million monthly streams and significant engagement during events like Euro 2024—Netflix is poised to leverage this popularity to draw in a larger audience. The show will not only feature the hosts’ analysis and commentary but will also incorporate reports from England and various official World Cup fan zones, ensuring a comprehensive and entertaining viewing experience for football fans worldwide.
As the landscape of sports broadcasting evolves, Netflix’s foray into live sports through *The Rest Is Football* signifies a strategic effort to diversify its content offerings and engage with sports enthusiasts. By blending the podcast’s established format with the excitement of live events, Netflix aims to create a dynamic viewing experience that resonates with both dedicated football fans and casual viewers alike. With the World Cup set to be a major highlight in 2026, this collaboration is a timely initiative that could redefine how sports content is consumed in the streaming era, positioning Netflix as a serious contender in the sports media landscape. Game on!
Netflix
has teamed up with major
sports
podcast
The Rest Is Football
to produce a daily TV show during the
2026 FIFA World Cup
.
Announced
on Wednesday, English football greats Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards will present their popular, Goalhanger-produced podcast for Netflix from New York during the international tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
Amazon is blocking illegal Fire Stick sports streaming
Daily episodes of
The Rest Is Football
will be filmed for Netflix from a New York studio (this year’s World Cup has three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the U.S.), with reporters set to check in from England and other official World Cup fan zones. “Expect all the usual analysis, honesty and plenty of laughs,” Lineker said in a press statement, “just with a few more cameras pointed at us, all from the Big Apple.”
The three hosts and sporting legends will provide the match commentary, insider knowledge, and interviews the podcast is known for, with Lineker adding, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the three of us to do what we love — talk football every day — but on a truly global stage.”
Featured Video For You
How sports broadcasting’s worst idea led to its best — How Did We Get Here?
The Rest Is Football
is the latest Netflix venture into live sports broadcasting, following events like the streamer’s live Las Vegas golf tournament
The Netflix Cup
in 2023, live boxing matches like
the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight
in 2024,
live weekly WWE Raw shows
launched in Jan. 2025, and the NFL Christmas Games which launched in 2024 and became
the most streamed NFL games in U.S. history
—
Netflix is running these again this year
.
With streaming competitors like
Apple and Amazon also racing to top the sports streaming game
through billion-dollar deals,
The Rest Is Football
is another (very popular) feather in Netflix’s cap. It’s undeniably one of the top sports podcasts on the planet, with over 7 million monthly streams, and
reporting
19.6 million downloads and YouTube views during the Euro 2024 in July last year.
Game on.
