Gary Lineker's final appearance as a BBC Sport presenter is confirmed - as broadcaster and ITV win rights for 2026 and 2030 World Cups coverage
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Gary Lineker will get a World Cup swansong after the BBC announced they have agreed a deal with ITV for live coverage of the 2026 and 2030 tournaments. Lineker, 64, will quit presenting Match of the Day at the end of the current season after 26 years. The former England striker will continue to present live coverage of the FA Cup before leaving the corporation altogether in two years' time after the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
![[ITV and BBC will show more games than ever after the World Cup was extended to 48 teams and 104 games]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/13/76163943-0-Morocco_Spain_and_Portugal_are_set_to_host_the_2030_World_Cup_wi-a-17_1734441113810.jpg)
The agreement will see the BBC provide live coverage and highlights across its TV channels and iPlayer, as well as live audio commentary on Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. ITV will deliver free-to-air coverage of live fixtures across ITV1, ITV4 and ITVX, plus highlights and exclusive content on ITV Sport social accounts.
![[The announcement comes days after Mail Sport revealed Kelly Cates is leaving Sky to join Match of The Day as one of their presenters from next season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/13/93165727-0-Kelly_Cates_is_leaving_Sky_to_join_Match_of_The_Day_as_one_of_th-a-18_1734441817288.jpg)
The two broadcasters will show more games than ever before after the World Cup was extended to 48 teams and 104 games. Gary Lineker will officially leave the BBC after presenting the World Cup in 2026. ITV and BBC will show more games than ever after the World Cup was extended to 48 teams and 104 games.
The BBC's director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: 'The World Cup is magical, something the whole planet stops to experience, and we can't wait to show it to audiences across all platforms.'. Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, added: 'We are looking forward to bringing these two tournaments free-to-air across ITV and ITVX.
