Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season and leave the BBC after the next World Cup

Gary Lineker will leave the BBC after the 2026 World Cup.

The former English striker has presented Match of the day since 1999.

However, Lineker It is now understood that he plans to step away from his hosting duties at the station.

It will also stop presenting Match of the Day at the end of this season.

The 63-year-old will then leave the bbc Completely after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

However, he will remain part of their FA Cup coverage for the 2025/26 season, as part of an 18-month contract extension, the report adds.

His new deal takes Lineker's tenure until the next major international tournament in less than two years.

Meanwhile, he will have presented Match of the Day for 25 years when he leaves office next summer.

Lineker replaced Des Lynam in the role in 1999 after moving into pundit and presenting following his playing career.

His BBC tenure also included work for Radio 5 Live, They Think It's All Over and Grandstand.

He even had a brief stint as part of the station's golf coverage, fronting live action from the Masters and The Open.

Lineker's departure comes just a month after made a cheeky joke about his future in Match of the day.

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After suggestions that he would announce his departure sooner rather than later, he couldn't resist poking fun at the speculation.

Opening the show, Lineker said: “Hello, there are seven games left and it's my last show… before the international break.”

Their final real show is now expected to come on the final day of the Premier League season on May 25.

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