FIFA and Netflix Sign Broadcasting Deal for Women's World Cup

NEW YORK (Reuters) – FIFA and Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) have signed an agreement to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 editions of the Women’s World Cup in the United States.

FIFA announced that the Women’s World Cup will be the first competition fully acquired by Netflix, enabling U.S. fans to watch every match live. The agreement also extends to Puerto Rico and will feature dual telecasts in English and Spanish.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed confidence in Netflix as a long-term partner, highlighting their commitment to promoting women’s football. He stated, “Besides broadcasting the tournaments themselves, Netflix will play a key role in bringing the fascination of women’s football to a multi-million audience.”

The 2027 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to occur in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, marking the tournament’s debut in South America. Host countries for the 2031 edition are yet to be determined.

In addition to live coverage, Netflix will produce a documentary series leading up to both tournaments.

This deal represents a significant step in Netflix’s strategy to embrace sports, offering proprietary content to viewers. Last month, over 100 million people watched a fight between retired boxer Mike Tyson and influencer Jake Paul on the platform.

Netflix is also set to air two live NFL games for the first time on Christmas Day.

Negotiations for TV rights for the 2023 tournament faced challenges, but the women’s competition ultimately achieved record viewership, with 12 million tuning in for the championship match between England and Spain on BBC One in the UK.