FIFA has signed a U.S. broadcast deal with Netflix for the 2027 Women's World Cup, as well as the 2031 tournament to be broadcast in the United States.
The deal announced on Friday is the most significant agreement FIFA has ever signed with a major tournament streaming service. International women's soccer competitions are struggling to attract big offers, but no amount was given.
The World Cup is usually broadcast on free public networks to reach a wide audience, but for the last women's tournament in 2023, FIFA received less than 10% of the viewership of the 2022 men's World Cup. .
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly criticized public broadcasters, particularly in Europe, for underestimating offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the US
“This agreement sends a strong message about the true value of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the women's game around the world,” Infantino said in a statement Friday.
FIFA is likely to use its deal with Netflix to push for more aggressive negotiations with European broadcasters.
FIFA and Infantino want to raise the price of broadcast contracts to finance increased prize money and close the gender pay gap at the Men's World Cup.
The 2022 Qatar Men's World Cup saw 32 federations share the $440 million prize pool. In preparation for the 2023 women's tournament, FIFA had set aside a total of $152 million in funds for prize money, contributions to team preparation costs and payments to player clubs.
The next Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2027, with 32 teams and 64 matches, from June 24 to July 25.
The venue for 2031 has not yet been decided, but the United States is expected to bid for the tournament, and FIFA is believed to be looking to expand the number of participating teams to 48. This is comparable in size to the 104-game format of the 2026 Men's World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Spain won the 2023 Women's World Cup after the United States won the previous two titles in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015.
In FIFA's financial accounts for 2023, the year the last Women's World Cup was held, FIFA reported total broadcast revenue of $244 million. In the year of the 2022 Men's World Cup, it was about $2.9 billion.
Netflix entered live sports last month, with more than 60 million households tuning in to watch the highly-hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. However, some viewers reported streaming issues.
Netflix will also air two NFL games on Christmas Day: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans. This is part of a three-year contract announced in May.
FIFA has sought to give Apple+ an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, to be held in 11 US cities next June and July.
Broadcast networks showed little interest in FIFA club events being aired for free on streaming service DAZN, which has close business ties with Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the next Women's World Cup, Netflix will “produce an exclusive documentary series for both tournaments highlighting the world's top players, their journeys and the growth of women's football globally,” FIFA announced. did.
