Netflix and FIFA announced a groundbreaking deal on Friday for the streaming service to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
The agreement is comprehensive and exclusive, FIFA said. Netflix will broadcast all matches from both tournaments live, in English and Spanish, with no plans to sublicense the rights to any cable or over-the-air television network.
This will be the first time that World Cup matches, men’s or women’s, will be broadcast in the United States by a digital streaming service, and not on linear television.
And, for FIFA, it is risky. A source familiar with the matter told Yahoo Sports that, like all Netflix content, fans will need a subscription to watch the games. The paywall could limit the reach and delay the commercial maturity of the Women’s World Cup, a three-decade-old property that sports and media executives see as having significant potential for future, rapid and lucrative growth.
Women’s World Cup moves from TV to streaming
For decades, the women’s and men’s World Cups – sold by FIFA in bundles – were broadcast in the United States by ESPN and then by Fox in English; and by Univision, then Telemundo in Spanish. Fox’s first rights deal began with the 2015 Women’s World Cup, and was later controversially extended to the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
However, starting with the 2027 Women’s World Cup, as part of a new women’s football strategy, FIFA has split the rights to the women’s and men’s tournaments into two separate packages. He officially launched a bidding process for the 2027 and 2031 tournaments in November.
A month later, it entered into exclusive negotiations with Netflix and signed this agreement, the first of its kind, which will extend beyond the World Cup matches.
“In addition to offering live coverage,” FIFA said in its statement, “Netflix will produce exclusive documentary series ahead of both tournaments, highlighting the world’s best players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football “.
Netflix launches into live sports
It’s unclear exactly how much Netflix will pay for the rights. Spokespeople for FIFA and Netflix declined to comment on financial terms.
It is clear, however, that sports organizations are increasingly willing to sell their rights to non-traditional broadcasters; and that streaming giants, like Apple and Amazon, are increasingly interested in live sports.
Netflix has been relatively slow to venture into the space. The company has extensive experience with sports documentaries, including the U.S. and Spanish women’s national teams, but relatively little experience with live games. Recently, however, it aired a one-off boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul; and on Christmas Day it will broadcast NFL games. The Women’s World Cup could accelerate its sporting expansion.
The deal will begin with the 2027 tournament, which is expected to be played in Brazil.
The host of the 2031 tournament is still to be determined. The United States is expected to bid, perhaps jointly with Mexico. But they could face competition from China or several European countries.
