The BBC has confirmed that its pundits are free to undertake other media work during this summer’s World Cup but will not subsidise the costs involved.Licence fee payers’ money will not be used to fund travel and expenses for pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards to appear on Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football podcast during the tournament.Any flights, accommodation and related expenses for Shearer and Richards’ podcast appearances will be kept entirely separate from their BBC duties.Netflix or Goalhanger, the production company co-founded by Lineker, will need to cover these costs instead.The streaming giant struck a deal worth a reported £14m with Goalhanger Podcasts in December to broadcast the show during the tournament.Under this agreement, more than 40 video podcast episodes are expected to be produced, with Netflix keen to feature as many high-profile guests as possible.Lineker will present from a New York studio throughout the competition, with other pundits joining him when their schedules permit.The podcast’s production standards will be significantly higher this summer due to the Netflix partnership.The BBC has confirmed that its pundits are free to undertake other media work during the tournament | GETTY During Euro 2024, the then-BBC trio recorded episodes together in Berlin, but Lineker’s departure from the corporation last year has complicated their filming arrangements.Shearer is expected to remain in North America for the duration of the finals, fulfilling co-commentary duties for the BBC while fitting his podcast commitments around his contracted work.Richards, who won Premier League titles with Manchester City in 2012 and 2014, will be primarily based in UK studios for his BBC role.He is allowed to travel to the United States for work that does not conflict with his broadcasting obligations.Lineker will present from a New York studio throughout the competition, with other pundits joining him when their schedules permit | PABoth pundits may occasionally need to appear on the podcast virtually rather than in person due to their BBC schedules.The BBC and Goalhanger are understood to be collaborating closely to ensure the pundits’ commitments are properly coordinated.The BBC has opted to base its World Cup coverage from Salford studios for the majority of the tournament, citing cost constraints and environmental considerations.The expansion to 48 teams means 104 matches will be played, up from 64 at the 2022 Qatar finals.The World Cup is the biggest competition in international football | PAThe vast travel distances involved would affect the corporation’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.Lead presenters Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan will work from the UK studio, though one or more may travel to the United States later in the competition, particularly if England or Scotland reach the knockout stages.The Three Lions were drawn into group L alongside Croatia, Panama and Ghana.Scotland were drawn into group C, meaning they will face Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.