Washington, December 21, 2024: FIFA and Netflix have entered into a groundbreaking agreement to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 editions of the Women’s World Cup in the United States. The announcement was made by FIFA on Friday, marking Netflix’s first full acquisition of a major sports tournament.
Under the deal, Netflix will provide live coverage of every match for U.S.-based viewers, including those in Puerto Rico. The tournament will be broadcast in both English and Spanish, ensuring broad accessibility for diverse audiences.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Netflix as a “marquee brand” and a “long-term partner,” emphasizing the streaming service’s strong commitment to promoting women’s football. “Besides broadcasting the tournaments, Netflix will play a crucial role in boosting the popularity of women’s football, reaching millions of viewers ahead of the tournaments and increasing their global appeal,” Infantino stated.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, marking the first time the tournament is hosted in South America. The host country for the 2031 edition is yet to be decided by FIFA’s Congress.
In addition to live match coverage, Netflix will also produce a documentary series leading up to both tournaments, further enhancing its involvement in the women’s football landscape.
This deal is the latest step in Netflix’s growing sports portfolio. The streaming giant has increasingly focused on exclusive sports content, as seen with the recent broadcast of a high-profile fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which attracted over 100 million viewers globally. Netflix will also air two live NFL games on Christmas Day for the first time.
The announcement comes after tense negotiations over broadcast rights for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which almost resulted in a blackout in key markets. FIFA had sold the women’s competition’s broadcast rights separately from the men’s for the first time, but the tournament ultimately attracted record viewership, with 12 million people in the UK tuning in to BBC One for the final between England and Spain.
