Netflix has entered the live men's football arena, securing exclusive rights to the 2030 World Cup in Spain, one of the co-host nations. This agreement builds on the streaming giant's existing deal with Fifa for exclusive North American rights to the next two Women's World Cups.
The 2030 World Cup, which will be uniquely shared across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with opening matches in South America, will largely be behind a paywall in Spain. However, Netflix plans to make one match per matchday available for free in Spain. Additionally, a package of matches, including every Spain match, both semi-finals, and the final, will be broadcast on a national free-to-air channel to ensure broad accessibility.
Fifa general secretary Mattias Grafstrom expressed pleasure in building on the partnership with Netflix, stating a shared ambition to bring fans closer to the game. The deal, which also covers Andorra, could set a precedent for how the 2030 World Cup is broadcast, following Fifa's most lucrative edition this summer in the US, Canada, and Mexico. In the UK, the World Cup remains a government-protected event requiring terrestrial TV broadcast.