Netflix, Disney, YouTube Eye FIFA World Cup U.S. Rights in $2B Deal
FIFA is bundling English and Spanish U.S. broadcast rights for 2030 and 2034, drawing interest from streaming giants and potentially pushing the price to $2 billion.
Netflix, Disney, and YouTube are among the major players vying for U.S. broadcast rights to the FIFA World Cup, with the overall package potentially valued at up to $2 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The competition signals a dramatic escalation in how much streaming and media companies are willing to spend to secure one of the world's most-watched sporting events.
FIFA has informed media companies that English-language and Spanish-language U.S. rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are expected to be sold as a single bundled package. That strategic decision is widely seen as a move to maximize revenue by forcing bidders to pay for both audiences simultaneously rather than acquiring each separately at a lower cost.
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Bundling the two language rights together is a significant shift that could reshape who ultimately lands the tournament. Historically, English and Spanish rights have attracted different buyers — traditional broadcasters for one, Spanish-language networks for the other. Combining them narrows the field to deep-pocketed platforms with the infrastructure and subscriber base to serve both demographics effectively.
The involvement of streaming heavyweights like Netflix and YouTube underscores the ongoing transformation of live sports broadcasting, where digital platforms are aggressively challenging legacy television networks. Disney, which owns ESPN and ABC, brings existing sports infrastructure and distribution muscle to any potential bid. A deal of this scale would represent a landmark moment for soccer's commercial footprint in the United States, particularly ahead of the country co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
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