Netflix and FIFA announced a landmark deal on Friday for the streaming service to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
The deal is full and exclusive, FIFA said. Netflix will broadcast all matches from both tournaments live, in English and Spanish, without any sub-licensing of the rights to a cable or terrestrial TV network.
It will be the first time a World Cup match, men’s or women’s, will be broadcast in the United States on a digital streaming service rather than on linear television.
“This historic agreement provides U.S.-based fans with unparalleled access to every live match and comprehensive coverage, including star-studded studio broadcasts,” FIFA said in a press release. For decades, the Women’s and Men’s World Cups, sold by FIFA as a package, have been broadcast in the United States by ESPN, 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.
However, starting with the 2027 Women’s World Cup, as part of a new strategy for women’s football, FIFA has split the rights for the women’s and men’s tournaments into two separate packages.
A bidding process officially began in November. A month later, it began exclusive negotiations with Netflix and signed this unprecedented deal of its kind. “In addition to live coverage,” FIFA said in a statement, “Netflix will produce an exclusive documentary series ahead of both tournaments, highlighting the world’s best players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football.”
It’s not yet clear how much Netflix will pay for the rights. It’s also unclear whether some matches will be available to stream for free, or if all will require some sort of Netflix subscription.
Paying for matches would significantly limit the reach of the Women’s World Cup, a three-decade-old property that sports and media executives see as having significant potential for rapid and profitable growth in the future.
On the other hand, the deal could accelerate Netflix’s expansion into sports. The streaming giant has plenty of experience with sports documentaries — including those about the U.S. and Spanish women’s national teams — but relatively little with live matches. However, the channel recently aired a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, and will show NFL games on Christmas Day.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be played in Brazil.
The host country for the 2031 tournament has yet to be determined. The United States is expected to bid, possibly with Mexico. But they could face competition from China or some European countries.