Netflix and FIFA on Friday announced a groundbreaking deal for the streaming service to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
The deal is comprehensive and exclusive, FIFA said. Netflix will broadcast all games at both tournaments live, in English and Spanish, with no plan to sublicense the rights to a cable or over-the-air television network.
It will mark the first time that any World Cup matches, men’s or women’s, will be broadcast in the U.S. by a digital streaming service, and not on linear TV.
“The historic deal will provide U.S.-based fans with unparalleled access to every match live and to immersive coverage, including star-studded studio shows,” FIFA said in a news release.
For decades, women’s and men’s World Cups — which were sold by FIFA as a bundle — have been broadcast in the U.S. by ESPN and then 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 through the 2026 men’s World Cup.
Beginning with the 2027 Women’s World Cup, though, as part of a new women’s soccer strategy, FIFA split rights to the women’s and men’s tournaments into two separate packages. It officially launched a tender process in November. A month later, it entered exclusive negotiations with Netflix, and signed this first-of-its-kind deal.
“In addition to offering live coverage,” FIFA said in its release, “Netflix will produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football.”
It’s unclear how much Netflix will pay for the rights. It’s also unclear whether any games will be available to stream for free, or whether all will require some sort of Netflix subscription.
Paywalled games would significantly limit the reach of the Women’s World Cup, a three-decade-old property that sports and media executives see as one with significant potential for further, rapid and lucrative growth.
On the other side of the deal, they could accelerate Netflix’s expansion in sports. The streaming giant has extensive experience with sports documentaries — including ones on the U.S. and Spanish women’s national teams — but relatively little with live games. Recently, though, it broadcast a one-off boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul; and on Christmas Day, it will stream NFL games.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup is set to be played in Brazil.
The host of the 2031 tournament remains to be determined. The United States is expected to bid, perhaps jointly with Mexico. But they could face competition from China or multiple European nations.
