Netflix acquires US streaming rights for the next two FIFA Women's World Cups
The next two editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup will be streamed in the United States exclusively on Netflix in 2027 and 2031, according to a joint statement from FIFA and Netflix on Friday.
“This is a historic moment for sports media rights,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
Brazil will host the next tournament in 2027, while FIFA has yet to decide on the 2031 venue.
“This deal sends a strong message about the true value of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the global women's game,” Infantino continued. “The partnership between FIFA and Netflix makes this a truly historic day for streaming and for women's football.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix is not just about streaming games, but also about celebrating the players, culture and passion that are driving the global rise of women’s sport,” Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said.
This announcement marks the latest foray into live sports for the streaming giant.
Earlier this year, Netflix signed a three-year deal to stream NFL Christmas Day games, starting with a pair of matchups airing Wednesday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game.
Last month, Netflix announced that Beyoncé will perform a halftime show at the Ravens-Texans game.
“Last year, we decided to go big on live, tapping into the huge fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports and more,” Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said when the NFL deal was announced.
Netflix made waves in the boxing world in November with its Mike Tyson-Jake Paul match, the kind of event previously reserved for pay-per-view.
The streaming platform later said the Tyson-Paul fight was watched by 60 million households worldwide.
Beginning in 2025, Netflix will also become the home of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, in a 10-year deal valued at more than $5 billion.
FIFA and Netflix say the upcoming Women’s World Cups “will be the first competition to be fully acquired by Netflix, further reinforcing the tournament’s status as the biggest women’s sporting event on the planet.”
More than two million people watched on FOX and Telemundo as Spain defeated England to win the 2023 Women's World Cup, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. women's national team had an early exit in 2023 after falling to Sweden in the round of 16. The team's four games averaged nearly 3.8 million viewers in 2023, according to FOX.
