Gary Lineker’s replacement for BBC’s World Cup 2026 coverage with three names leading the race
GARY LINEKER’S departure from the BBC leaves three names leading the race to host the 2026 World Cup coverage.
The former England striker is bowing out by mutual agreement after 26 years with his final Match of the Day this Sunday.
It comes in the wake of an antisemitism row which saw Lineker apologise for sharing a controversial post.
Lineker, 64, faced a huge backlash after he reposted a video which criticised Zionism and included an illustration of a rat.
He had been due to host the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup – but now a replacement will need to be found.
Here, SunSport look at the most likely candidates primed to fill Lineker’s boots.
Gabby Logan
Presenter Logan has worked on World Cup and European Championships for the Beeb in the past – alternating with Lineker.
Mark Chapman
Chapman long anchored MOTD 2 before accepting the gig to share the role as Lineker’s replacement.
He has also presented coverage of World Cup and Euros for the BBC previously.
Kelly Cates
Cates – daughter to Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish – is due to leave Sky Sports for the BBC when she takes over from Lineker.
She has worked on World Cup and Euro competitions before on radio but not yet in a TV role.
Alex Scott
Former Arsenal star Scott has carved out a successful punditry career since retiring from playing in 2017.
She has worked on BBC TV before on Football Focus, MOTD and the World Cup – becoming the first female pundit to do so for the Beeb.
Reshmin Chowdhury
Chowdhury has had a storied broadcasting career, working for the likes of Real Madrid TV, BT (now TNT) Sport and Eurosport.
She has also hosted World Cup coverage for the BBC – working for BeIN Sports in the Middle East in 2022.
Manish Bhasin
Bhasin first joined the BBC in 2004 and has worked on several shows including Football Focus, The Football League Show and Late Kick Off.
He has also hosted MOTD 2 in the absence of Chapman before and worked on the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euros.
Lineker has been the face of BBC football since 1999.
And he climbed to ladder to become the Beeb’s highest-paid presenter – despite taking a voluntary pay cut of 23% in 2020 to earn £1.3million.
But Lineker has caused controversy away from the camera for his outspoken political views.
In 2023 he was temporarily removed from MOTD after likening the then-Tory government’s asylum policy to rhetoric of Nazi Germany.
His co-presenters Alan Shearer and Ian Wright then boycotted the show and it went ahead without post-match analysis.
Lineker’s most recent antisemitism row led to the ex-Barcelona star apologising on Instagram.
But SunSport understands Lineker agreed to leave the BBC for good after meeting bosses last week — with a source saying he realised his position was untenable.