In an intriguing development for the world of sport rights, former BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has secured a deal with sports streaming service DAZN to include FIFA Club World Cup footage in his The Rest Is Football podcast.
The video edition of the podcast, which sees Lineker discuss football with former stars Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, is expected to use DAZN-controlled content throughout the tournament. This is likely to include FIFA Club World Cup preview episodes, exclusive match footage, social cutdowns, and live reportage.
Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger, the company behind the podcast, said: “The Rest Is Football isn’t just being listened to — it’s being watched, shared, and talked about across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Instagram. Partnering with DAZN to bring clips into the mix is the natural next step — adding energy, context, and taking the conversation to the next level. With 6m episode views & listens each month, and huge engagement across social, it’s already the UK’s most popular sports podcast.”
Pete Oliver, CEO of growth markets at DAZN, added: “The Rest Is Football is essential viewing and listening for fans who want insight, entertainment, and personality — and this partnership is a brilliant way to bring the FIFA Club World Cup even closer to that audience. It’s about connecting global football with the voices fans trust and love, and showing the tournament in a fresh, exciting, and authentically British way. As the global broadcast partner of the FIFA Club World Cup and the only place where fans in the UK can watch every game for free, there was no better partner than Goalhanger.”
The announcement of the deal makes it look like the parntership with The Rest Is Football relates specifically to the UK. So it will be interesting to see if DAZN looks to form similar digital-first arrangements in other markets to build fan engagement.
The FIFA Club World Cup commences on June 15th in the US, with DAZN holding the global rights. 2025 is the first year of the competition’s controversial expansion, with 32 clubs set to take part. Critics view the event as a competition too many, with leading players already complaining of having to play too many fixtures. Clubs competing this year include Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and PSG.
