DAZN partners with Gary Lineker’s Rest is Football podcast for FIFA 2025

DAZN has announced a partnership with Goalhanger, a production company founded by Gary Lineker, to deliver an enhanced edition of the “Rest is Football” podcast during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States

Hosted by Lineker and featuring notable former England internationals Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, this podcast will include licensed match footage from the tournament, alongside the team participating in live coverage and creating engaging social media content.

Commenting on the collaboration, co-founder of Goalhanger, Tony Pastor, stated: “The Rest Is Football isn’t just being listened to — it’s being watched, shared, and discussed across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Instagram.”

“Collaborating with DAZN to incorporate official match clips is a natural progression, adding energy and context that takes the conversation further.

“With over six million episode views and listens each month, and robust engagement across social, it stands as the UK’s most popular sports podcast. As fans’ experiences with football evolve, The Rest Is Football remains at the forefront,” Pastor said.

Chief executive of Growth Markets at DAZN, Pete Oliver, added: “The Rest Is Football is essential viewing and listening for fans seeking insight, entertainment, and personality — and this partnership is a fantastic way to engage that audience during the FIFA Club World Cup.” 

“It’s all about linking global football with the voices that fans trust and admire, delivering the tournament in a fresh, exciting, and genuinely British way.

“As the global broadcast partner of the FIFA Club World Cup and the only place UK fans can watch every match for free, collaborating with Goalhanger was the perfect choice,” Oliver mentioned.

This collaboration will provide DAZN with additional content to promote its live broadcasts of the revamped competition, which showcases 32 club teams from around the globe, including iconic clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Goalhanger shall gain a worldwide platform to elevate its flagship soccer podcast, enhancing its production company through official match content.

In addition, The Rest is Football is accessible on most major podcast platforms, a recent distribution deal with BBC Sounds ended following Lineker’s exit from the BBC.

DAZN has committed USD$1 billion (AUD$1.5 billion) to secure global broadcasting rights for the Club World Cup, with all matches available for free viewing without a subscription.

This strategy aims to attract users who can generate revenue through advertising and additional services like betting and e-commerce, with hopes of converting some free users into paid subscribers.

To maximise awareness and recover some of its investment, DAZN has established free-to-air (FTA) television agreements in several regions.

Sublicensing arrangements are in place in various markets, including Channel 5 in the UK and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in the US, though financial terms remain undisclosed.

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