Who will replace Gary Lineker for World Cup? How trio of well-known faces could step up in his place as ex-England star is poised to leave the BBC today – but Match of the Day host isn’t set to leave our screens straight away

Gary Lineker is set to announced his departure from the BBC after 26 years today, raising questions over who will replace the star presenter for the 2026 World Cup.

The 64-year-old, whose £1.35million-a-year salary makes him the highest-paid presenter at the BBC, is due to bow out by mutual agreement after being plunged into an antisemitism row last week.

The former England striker sparked a major backlash after he reposted a video on Instagram which criticised Zionism and featured an illustration of a rat – an antisemitic insult historically used by Nazi Germany to characterise Jews. 

On Tuesday, Lineker deleted the Instagram story and apologised, saying: ‘On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references.

‘I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.’ 

But it follows a tumultuous period for Lineker who has often been criticised for widely sharing his opinionated views – despite the BBC’s stringent impartiality rules.

Lineker was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after he compared the then Tory government’s rhetoric over its immigration policy to that of Nazi Germany. His suspension was lifted when colleagues walked out in support of him.

Then in November 2024, Lineker announced he would be leaving Match of the Day at the end of this season, but would remain with the BBC to host the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup.

But it appears Lineker – who returned to screens to present the FA Cup final on Saturday – will not survive to host the World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico after BBC bosses decided his position was ‘untenable’.

Gary Lineker returned to screens to present the FA Cup final on Saturday – but will not front the World Cup in 2026

Lineker shared a now-deleted reel on Instagram which originated with pro-Palestine group Palestine Lobby. It featured a rat – an antisemitic insult historically used by Nazi Germany to characterise Jews

Among the Nazis’ depictions of Jewish people as rats was this poster produced by Adolf Hitler’s regime during their 1940s occupation of Denmark

A source told The Sun: ‘Gary acknowledged his position at the BBC, anchoring the most prestigious tournament in world football, was untenable, and he will not be hosting the World Cup.

‘He offered to step down at the end of the season, and did not want the BBC — an organisation he still holds in the highest of esteem — dragged into any further controversy.’

Lineker’s last Match of the Day is due to air on Sunday – the final day of the Premier League season – and ‘he won’t be back’, the source added.

All eyes are now on who will anchor the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup next year – and Lineker’s replacement is expected to be announced imminently. 

Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan are among those who could be in contention given they are taking over from Lineker as Match of the Day hosts from next season.

The presenters are thought to be set to split presenting duties for Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 between the three of them when they begin their new role upon Lineker’s departure. 

The Mail previously revealed that the trio are thought to be close and are happy to be sharing the prized role between them.

Cates, the daughter of Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish, will be allowed to continue to work for Sky after an agreement was ironed out between both broadcasters.

In Chapman’s case, this will also allow him to continue his BBC radio commitments, which is believed to have been a major boost to securing him for the showpiece role. 

Lineker will not be the BBC host for the next World Cup. He is pictured presenting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar 

Lineker’s inflammatory tweet from 2023 compared ministers’ language over migration to ‘Germany in the 30s’ 

Kelly Cates (left) will join a three-person hosting team with Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan for next season’s Match of the Day. They could be contenders to host the World Cup in Lineker’s place

Cates is the daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish and fronts Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage

Both Chapman and Logan have long-running associations with the national broadcaster

The pair already know each other closely, working together on The Sports Agents podcast

BBC veterans Chapman and Logan also work together on The Sports Agents podcast.

The trio, meanwhile, will also present the BBC’s Champions League highlights show.

Lineker last month backed the BBC’s decision to split hosting duties between the three top presenters.

‘That’s probably down to the fact it’s a massive commitment,’ Lineker told FourFourTwo magazine. ‘Those three have all got families, and if you’re saying someone is going to do it for the next 10 or 20 years, then your weekends are gone.

‘That might be it, I don’t know. I didn’t get involved in any of that. I take it as a compliment that they’ve named three, but I suspect it’s not due to that.

‘I haven’t seen them yet to speak to them, but I will do – they’ll be fine and they’ll do a great job. I’ve known them all for years, they’re top presenters. I’ll be watching, but probably on iPlayer… I don’t think I’ll be watching on Saturday. Maybe the odd time, if I’m in.’ 

When the BBC announced the shake-up, they said Chapman, Logan and Cates would be working alongside a ‘stellar football team’ that includes Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Alex Scott, Jason Mohammad, Kelly Somers, John Murray and Steve Crossman. 

When Cates announced she was joining MOTD, she said: ‘Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment. I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.

‘I’ve known Gabby and Mark really well for years so to bring it all together, embracing the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that’s what makes it so exciting too.’

She has worked for the BBC’s radio arm, presenting Radio 5 Live’s 606 programme alongside former Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright, hosting midweek sports show 5 Live Sport, and covering multiple World Cups, including the 2022 final.

The long-standing sports presenter was at the helm of Match of the Day for 25 seasons but was due to step down at the end of this season even prior to this latest controversy 

Lineker has been repeatedly outspoken on the Israel-Palestine conflict, something that has caused controversy within the BBC

Footballer turned presenter Gary Lineker on Match of the Day in 1999 – his first season in the role he held for 25 years

The veteran broadcaster has appeared on Match of the Day for over two decades (pictured with Alan Hansen in 2002)

Logan also has long-running ties with the national broadcast, first presenting for the channel’s FA Cup coverage in 2007, and fronting major events such as the Olympics, the London Marathon, and the Women’s Six Nations.

The former gymnast said: ‘It’s always a real moment [sitting in the chair] because it has such history. It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TVs changed so much.

‘There’s an enormous responsibility to make sure we continue to evolve while at the same time respecting the traditions of Match of the Day. People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone’s talking about, so while we can tinker at the edges, the core is the football.’

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment. 

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