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Gary Lineker made an unexpected comeback to free-to-air broadcasting on Saturday night as he joined ITV’s World Cup coverage, just weeks after his widely discussed departure from the BBC. The former England captain appeared as a studio guest during the Group E clash between Germany and Ivory Coast, sitting alongside host Laura Woods and playfully taking over the broadcast momentarily.

Back in the studio

Lineker joined Woods and an all-star punditry panel featuring Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Duncan Ferguson in the ITV studio. His appearance came as a major surprise to many viewers, given his 26-year association with the BBC, where he had become one of the most recognisable faces in sports broadcasting.

There was a humorous scripted segment in which Lineker amusingly began to open the broadcast himself, prompting laughter from the team. “Thank you very much for joining us on ITV for this one. Another day, another game, another channel,” Lineker quipped before Woods jumped in to reclaim her hosting duties. Lineker laughed and responded, “Sorry, sorry. Old habits!”

Addressing the BBC departure

Lineker’s appearance on ITV follows a stormy conclusion to his long-standing role as the face of Match of the Day. Although he had initially been expected to front the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup, those plans were abandoned after controversy surrounding his social media activity.

Since his departure, the former striker has openly expressed disappointment with the direction of the BBC, describing its recent decisions as “devastating.” Speaking at a London event for the documentary “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack,” which the BBC decided not to air, Lineker criticised the organisation’s leadership, suggesting it had increasingly succumbed to political influence.

Kane matches Lineker’s World Cup tally

During his ITV appearance, Lineker also discussed Harry Kane, who recently matched his record of 10 World Cup goals for England. Reflecting on the milestone, achieved through Kane’s brace against Croatia, Lineker joked, “I am not a violent man, but I did kick the door down! No, I was genuinely pleased for Harry. Obviously it’s taken him an extra World Cup to do it and there are quite a few penalties in there, but we’ll give him that.”

He went on to praise the Bayern Munich striker’s development, acknowledging that Kane has become a more complete forward. “In all seriousness, Harry is a way better all-round number nine than I was,” said the former World Cup Golden Boot winner. “I was very much a penalty box player and Harry does it all, doesn’t he? He drops deep, his passing range is brilliant, and I think he’s our best ever number nine.”

A light jab at the competition

Lineker also took the opportunity to make a gentle dig at his former employers regarding their setup for the tournament. While the BBC opted to present from their Salford base, ITV unveiled a high-tech studio in New York with a sweeping skyline backdrop. Lineker, who has been recording his “The Rest Is Football” podcast from Times Square as part of a Netflix collaboration, was clearly impressed by ITV’s production.

“I’ve been doing a show daily for Netflix from Times Square, but I really wanted to come and see your set,” he told the ITV team during the broadcast. “I think it’s absolutely amazing and I can confirm it’s real. What a backdrop.” Beyond the World Cup, Lineker’s association with ITV is set to continue, as he will host a new light-entertainment programme titled ‘The Box’ later this year.