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Major streaming players Netflix, Disney, and YouTube are reportedly preparing to challenge Fox for the lucrative U.S. broadcast rights to the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups. The bidding for each tournament’s English and Spanish language rights, which FIFA plans to sell as a single package, could escalate to between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. This intense competition underscores the increasing value of live sports content for streaming services, despite upcoming tournaments being in less favorable time zones for U.S. viewers.
The global phenomenon that is the FIFA World Cup continues to draw enormous viewership, prompting leading media companies to ready multi-billion dollar bids for the rights to the upcoming 2030 and 2034 men's tournaments. Insiders suggest that streaming powerhouses Netflix, Disney, and Alphabet's YouTube are set to challenge current holder Fox for the coveted U.S. broadcast rights. The competition is expected to intensify further, with tech giants like Amazon, already a UEFA Champions League rights holder in the U.K., and Apple, which possesses global MLS rights, potentially joining the fray.
Media executives are reportedly preparing budgets ranging from $1.5 billion to $2 billion for the rights to each World Cup tournament. In a move anticipated to significantly inflate prices, FIFA has indicated during initial discussions that the U.S. English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights will likely be bundled and sold as a single package, departing from previous separate sales. Formal negotiations between FIFA and prospective media partners are anticipated to commence within the next three months.
Caption: Folarin Balogun of the United States shoots during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium in Seattle, Washington, July 6, 2026. (Mb Media | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)
Watch Now: Netflix, Disney, YouTube interested in U.S. broadcast rights to 2030, 2034 World Cup
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Confidential preliminary talks between FIFA and prospective media partners commenced earlier this year, with formal discussions slated to begin in the next quarter. A significant change for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments is FIFA's intent to bundle English and Spanish U.S. broadcast rights, a departure from the separate sales strategy employed for prior World Cups, including 2026. For the current North American-hosted tournament, Fox secured English-language rights for $485 million, while NBCUniversal's Telemundo acquired Spanish-language rights for $600 million. This combined package for future tournaments is driving media executives to forecast budgets between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for each World Cup, a substantial increase from the 2011 deal with Fox and Telemundo, which was extended through 2026.
FIFA will not sell global rights due to varying national regulations that mandate the World Cup be available over the air. However, the U.S. rights are particularly coveted, offering immense viewership and advertising potential. Netflix, Disney, and YouTube all view securing the World Cup as a significant boost for their respective streaming services. Disney, for instance, could leverage ESPN and ABC for broadcasts, a prospect appealing to FIFA given Fox's strong ratings this year. FIFA has already shown interest in Netflix by granting it the Women's World Cup rights for 2027 and 2031.
Selling a Unified Package
FIFA's strategy to sell English- and Spanish-language rights as a singular package is expected to significantly drive up bidding prices, capitalizing on media partners' appetite for massive ratings. Recent U.S. games have demonstrated viewership comparable to NFL playoff matchups. This consolidated approach could also mitigate previous tensions between rival broadcasters. For instance, Telemundo, despite holding only Spanish-language rights through 2026, has reportedly attracted English-speaking viewers via its Peacock streaming service, impacting Fox's World Cup reach. The difference in streaming service pricing, with Peacock at $10.99/month and Fox One at $19.99/month, alongside Telemundo's use of English-speaking celebrity Owen Wilson as a spokesperson, highlights the blurring lines for a bilingual American audience.
Sources indicate that if both language rights are bundled, NBCUniversal, Telemundo's parent company, is unlikely to pursue a bid nearing $2 billion, effectively removing them from contention. This comes as Comcast recently announced plans to spin off NBCUniversal, intensifying investor scrutiny on its financial commitments, which already include billions annually for NFL's "Sunday Night Football" and NBA basketball. NBC declined to comment on the matter.
Beyond U.S. Time Zones
Despite the 2030 and 2034 World Cups being hosted in time zones less favorable for U.S. viewership—Morocco, Portugal, and Spain for 2030 (a five-to-six-hour difference from U.S. Eastern Time) and Saudi Arabia for 2034 (an even greater disparity)—the current World Cup's record-breaking ratings are expected to inflate future rights prices significantly. The recent U.S. victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina became the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast ever, drawing over 26 million viewers on Fox, with an additional 9.8 million watching on Telemundo or Peacock. Early estimates from AdImpact indicate that the U.S.-Belgium match garnered a staggering combined audience of 47.9 million viewers across English and Spanish broadcasts. Even matches not featuring the U.S. team, such as Portugal vs. Croatia, have attracted substantial viewership, with over 11 million tuning in on Fox, marking it as the most-watched non-final game in U.S. history without American involvement.
