Netflix signs groundbreaking deal for live Women’s World Cup broadcast rights

Netflix and FIFA on Friday announced a groundbreaking deal for the streaming service to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.

The deal is comprehensive and exclusive, FIFA said. Netflix will broadcast all games at both tournaments live, in English and Spanish, with no plan to sublicense the rights to a cable or over-the-air television network.

It will mark the first time that any World Cup matches, men’s or women’s, will be broadcast in the U.S. by a digital streaming service, and not on linear TV.

And, for FIFA, it is risky. A source familiar with the deal told Yahoo Sports that, like all Netflix content, fans will need a subscription to watch matches. The paywall could limit the reach and stunt the commercial maturity of the Women’s World Cup, a three-decade-old property that sports and media executives see as one with significant potential for further, rapid and lucrative growth.

Women’s World Cup moves from TV to streaming

For decades, women’s and men’s World Cups — which were sold by FIFA as a bundle — have been broadcast in the U.S. by ESPN and 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.

Beginning with the 2027 Women’s World Cup, though, as part of a new women’s soccer strategy, FIFA split rights to the women’s and men’s tournaments into two separate packages. It officially launched a tender process for the 2027 and 2031 tournaments in November.

A month later, it entered exclusive negotiations with Netflix, and signed this first-of-its-kind deal, which will extend beyond World Cup matches.

“In addition to offering live coverage,” FIFA said in its release, “Netflix will produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football.”

Netflix moves into live sports

It’s unclear how much Netflix will pay for the rights. Spokespeople for FIFA and Netflix declined to comment on the financial terms.

It’s clear, though, that sports organizations are increasingly willing to sell rights to non-traditional broadcasters; and that streaming giants, such as Apple and Amazon, are increasingly interested in live sports.

Netflix has been relatively slow to venture into the space. It has extensive experience with sports documentaries — including ones on the U.S. and Spanish women’s national teams — but relatively little with live games. Recently, though, it broadcast a one-off boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul; and on Christmas Day, it will stream NFL games. The Women’s World Cup could accelerate its expansion in sports.

The deal will begin with the 2027 tournament, which is set to be played in Brazil.

The host of the 2031 tournament remains to be determined. The United States is expected to bid, perhaps jointly with Mexico. But they could face competition from China or multiple European nations.