Streaming platform Nextflix has officially secured exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the Women’s World Cup.
This comes after Netflix signed a deal with the Federation of International Football [FIFA].
The agreement signed with Netflix is reportedly the most significant that the football’s world governing body has signed with a streaming platform for a major tournament.
In the lead up to both editions of the Women’s World Cup, the streaming platform is also set to produce exclusive documentary series on the women’s game.
In order to reach the largest audiences worldwide, World Cups are usually broadcast on free-to-air public networks. But after claiming to receive underwhelming offers to broadcast the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has criticised European public broadcasters.
“This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game.” Infantino said in a press statement issued on Friday the 20th of December.
To earn more lucrative broadcasting rights offers, FIFA will likely use this Netflix deal as a bargaining chip with European broadcasters.
The new agreement with FIFA is not the first time Nextflix is venturing into live sports as 60 million viewers watched the highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. The streaming platform has also announced it will be live streaming two NFL games on Christmas Day for the first time ever.
Scheduled to take place in Brazil, the forthcoming Women’s World Cup will be played from June 24 – July 25, 2027. Meanwhile, the 2031 host has not yet been decided.
