England football icon Alan Shearer was captured dancing on a table and singing karaoke at a celebratory party following the conclusion of the World Cup. The event marked the confirmation that Gary Lineker's podcast, "Rest is Football," will have its deal with Netflix extended.
Shearer and fellow pundit Micah Richards, who worked the World Cup final for the BBC, joined Lineker in New York for the podcast's final episode of the tournament and an ensuing after-party. Videos shared by Richards on Instagram showed Shearer enthusiastically performing karaoke, singing Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' and later 'Mr. Brightside' by The Killers while dancing on a table.
The "Rest is Football" podcast recorded daily shows throughout the World Cup under a reported £14 million deal with Netflix. Richards and Shearer juggled their podcast commitments with their BBC broadcasting duties.
During the final broadcast of the tournament, Lineker announced the podcast's continuation on the streaming service, confirming a new deal that will cover the 2026/27 season, beginning in August. He stated that episodes would be released weekly starting from the upcoming Premier League season, which commences in 32 days. The trio is expected to reunite to discuss major football news, occasionally joined by guests.
Over the course of the World Cup, the podcast featured a range of guests, including footballers like Harry Maguire, Patrick Vieira, and celebrities such as Maya Jama and Michael McIntyre. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani was also interviewed by Lineker.
Lineker also made a surprise guest appearance on ITV's World Cup coverage during the group stage, appearing on a broadcast of the Germany versus Ivory Coast match. He humorously opened the show before being reminded of his role by host Laura Woods. Lineker commented on the impressive studio set overlooking the Manhattan skyline, contrasting it with the BBC's Salford location.
His brief stint on ITV, where he joined a panel including Duncan Ferguson, Gary Neville, and Ian Wright, led to Richards jokingly labeling Lineker an "absolute traitor" on "Rest is Football" for appearing on a rival network, prompting a playful retort from Lineker.