Gary Lineker has suggested that he might not be allowed to cover the next World Cup due to his comments about Donald Trump. The next edition of football's most prestigious tournament will be held across North America in 2026. The vast majority of matches will take place in the United States, including all games from the quarter-finals onwards.

Lineker is due to cover the next World Cup as lead presenter for the BBC, after which point he will leave the organisation. However, the 64-year-old believes he may not be granted entry into the United States due to his outspoken nature. He is often critical of right-wing politics on social media and has been known to aim digs at Trump, who will remain in the White House until 2028.

Quizzed on his use of X (formerly Twitter) since it was taken over by Elon Musk, who is now a senior advisor to Trump, Lineker told The Telegraph: "I was open-minded at the start, but now it's like you've got Bond villains in charge of America."

Asked if he would be bold enough to maintain that rhetoric while covering the World Cup for the BBC, he replied: "Yes... if they let me in."

Lineker has not been shy to criticise Trump since he was first elected back in 2016. The following year, he launched a furious attack on the Republican leader after he signed an executive order banning those from seven Muslim majority countries.

"Trump's refugee policy is not just wrong, it's downright stupid," wrote Lineker. "Will only provoke more hatred, resentment and ultimately a greater threat. In just a week America appears to have gone completely insane with lunatics running the asylum.

"And just to prove we're slightly bonkers ourselves, we've invited the head of the mental institution for a State visit. Well played. Is our Prime Minister really not going to speak out against this abhorrent policy across the pond?"

Lineker also mocked Trump over his use of fake tan in a social media post marking Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. The former England striker and Match of the Day presenter wrote: "Happy Orange Wednesday."

Earlier this week, Lineker was forced to apologise for sharing a controversial social media post about Zionism. It included an illustration of a rat, which has historically been used as an insult referring to language used by Nazi Germany about Jews.

In a statement, Lineker said: "On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in."