Gary Lineker has confirmed he is stepping down from presenting Match of the Day, but has agreed a new contract with the BBC to lead its 2026 World Cup coverage.

Lineker has helmed the BBC’s flagship Premier League football highlights programme since 1999 and his exit comes after months of speculation over his future at the broadcaster.

The 63-year-old oversees a successful podcast business – which includes the popular The Rest Is Football, The Rest is Politics and The Rest is Entertainment podcasts – and said earlier this month that he will “have to slow down at some point”.

Lineker, who is currently the highest-paid on-air talent at the BBC, will remain with the broadcaster until the summer of 2026, after the conclusion of the World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico. He will continue to front the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup until his departure.

Lineker says: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, says: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.

“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week. He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”

Lineker had previously laughed off the ongoing speculation over his future, joking that the Match of the Day show in early October was his final one – then quickly adding: “before the international break”.

In March last year, Lineker was stood down from presenting the programme after a tweet comparing the British government’s asylum policy with 1930s Germany sparked a row about BBC presenters expressing political views on social media.

Following the incident, a number of sports presenters boycotted the show in solidarity with Lineker, including pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer.

In August 2016 he made good on an earlier promise to present the show in his underpants after his boyhood club Leicester won the Premier League.