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Gary Lineker made an unexpected appearance on ITV’s coverage of the Germany vs Ivory Coast match at the 2026 World Cup earlier this evening.

The 65-year-old, best known as the face of BBC’s Match of the Day, had previously parted ways with the broadcaster after being asked to step back from the show over politically charged social media posts.

The former England striker joined the broadcast to share his views on FIFA’s ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup and to comment on Harry Kane, who recently surpassed Lineker’s long-standing record.

The ex-Match of the Day host has since established a flourishing career in podcasting and television, including a popular series on Netflix. Most of his 2026 World Cup work is featured on the streaming platform through his The Rest Is Football series.

During the broadcast, Lineker criticised FIFA’s pricing strategy for the North American tournament, accusing the organisation of placing unnecessary financial strain on supporters.

“Well, FIFA will argue that the stadiums are all full, and they are,” Lineker remarked. “But fans are having to take out a second mortgage or sell their car just to afford to watch.”

He went on to add, “To fill the pockets of what is supposedly a not-for-profit organisation—I just don’t understand what FIFA are doing or why they’re making it so difficult. It’s incredible that so many fans have come despite that. There’s this perception that US sports are always expensive… but it’s FIFA that sets these ticket prices.”

Lineker also turned his attention to Harry Kane, who broke his World Cup goalscoring record for England against Croatia, making a particularly bold statement about the Bayern Munich striker.

Speaking with his trademark humour, Lineker said, “I was genuinely pleased for Harry, obviously. It’s taken him an extra World Cup to do it—and there have been a few penalties in there!”

He then added, “Harry is a far better number nine than I ever was… I think he’s the best number nine England has ever had.”

Although Lineker did not appear during the half-time segment of the Germany vs Ivory Coast match—with Ivory Coast leading 1-0 at the break—his candid remarks and sharp analysis remain among the most respected in world football.