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 Netflix, Disney, and YouTube in a package that could hit $2 billion.
FIFA is in advanced talks with major streaming and media players — including Netflix, Disney, and YouTube — over U.S. broadcast rights for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups, with the total package potentially reaching $2 billion, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
The governing body has signaled to media companies that English- and Spanish-language rights will likely be sold together as a single bundle, a strategic move that is expected to substantially drive up the overall price. Packaging both language rights eliminates the possibility of competitors splitting the deal and forces any winning bidder to serve the full breadth of the American soccer audience.
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The decision carries significant weight given the sheer size of the U.S. Spanish-speaking viewership, which has historically made World Cup soccer one of the most-watched sporting events in the country regardless of the U.S. team's performance. A combined rights package would give one platform or media group dominant control over how tens of millions of American fans consume the sport's biggest tournament for the better part of a decade.
The involvement of streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube signals a broader shift in how premium live sports rights are being contested, as traditional broadcast networks increasingly compete alongside tech-backed platforms willing to write large checks for exclusive or co-exclusive content. Disney, which operates ESPN and ABC, brings established sports infrastructure to the bidding table that pure streaming rivals would need to build or supplement.
No deal has been finalized, and the size and structure of any agreement could still shift as negotiations continue. Continue reading at US Top News and Analysis.
