FIFA has officially launched its tender for the U.S. media rights to the 2030 men's World Cup, with an option for bidders to also acquire rights for the 2034 tournament. Bids are due by November 19, and major companies like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney are reportedly interested.
Media executives predict that the rights could fetch between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, a substantial increase from the $425 million Fox paid for the 2026 World Cup, which achieved record U.S. viewership with an average of 13.5 million viewers, a 166% increase from 2022.
The 2030 World Cup will be hosted in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, which presents challenges due to time zone differences that may affect U.S. primetime viewing.
FIFA's Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai, expressed flexibility in negotiations, indicating a preference for selling both English and Spanish-language rights to a single media partner, unlike previous arrangements that caused tension between broadcasters.
Gai also mentioned that if a streaming service wins the rights, some matches will be made available for free, similar to Netflix's arrangement in Spain. FIFA plans to select its media partner by the end of the year, following in-person discussions with bidders after the bid deadline