Netflix, Disney, and YouTube are among the major media companies interested in securing the U.S. broadcast rights for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup tournaments. These companies aim to compete with Fox, which currently holds the rights for the 2026 World Cup. Amazon and Apple are also potential bidders, indicating the possibility of a fierce bidding war for these lucrative sports rights. Media executives expect the price for each tournament package to fall between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, reflecting the massive viewing audiences these events attract.

FIFA has signaled to prospective media partners that the English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights for the next two World Cups will likely be sold as a single package, unlike previous deals where they were sold separately. This bundling approach could drive the cost higher, as companies vie for the combined audience across languages. Fox and Telemundo currently hold the English and Spanish rights respectively for the 2026 Games, paying $485 million and $600 million. Combining the rights in future sales would likely eliminate NBCUniversal’s Telemundo from the bidding contest, as its parent company recently announced plans to spin off its media division.

The time zones for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, scheduled to be hosted in Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Saudi Arabia, present challenges for U.S. viewers due to significant differences from Eastern time. Despite these challenges, the soaring ratings and enormous popularity of soccer in the U.S. are expected to justify the high broadcast rights fees. The current World Cup games in North America have drawn record-breaking TV audiences, with some matches reaching nearly 50 million combined English and Spanish viewers, rivaling other major American sports events.

Streaming services view the World Cup as an opportunity to expand their subscriber base and enhance content offerings. Netflix, Disney, and YouTube see the tournament as a way to attract global audiences and increase engagement with their platforms. Disney could leverage its ESPN and ABC networks as part of the offering, providing a strong multi-platform presence. FIFA’s decision to package the rights together is a strategic move to maximize revenue while simplifying the broadcast landscape for advertisers and viewers alike. Discussions are expected to formally begin within the next three months to finalize these media deals.