Netflix officially acquires US broadcasting rights for FIFA Women's World Cup

The digital streaming giant has reached an agreement with FIFA for the US broadcasting rights for the tournaments to be held in 2027 and 2031. Although financial details have not yet been shared, it is stated that this agreement is the highest-value contract FIFA has ever signed with a digital platform.

According to the agreement approved on December 20, the FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in 2027 and 2031 will go down in history as the first tournament to be broadcast entirely on a streaming platform. Netflix will not only broadcast the matches in English and Spanish but will also bring the stories of the players and teams to viewers with a special documentary detailing the preparation process for the tournament.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement regarding the matter, "Our record-breaking success with the Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor match clearly shows the great interest in women's sports and live broadcasts. We see that interest in the FIFA Women's World Cup is constantly increasing. From the exciting atmosphere of France 2019 to the fascinating tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, this energy is constantly rising. Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix is not just about broadcasting the matches; it is also about celebrating the players, the culture, and the global rise of women's sports," she said.

This decision marks a shift in FIFA's traditional live broadcasting strategy toward digital platforms. FIFA officials stated that Netflix submitted the best offer and that other broadcasters were providing increasingly lower bids.

The deal is also expected to be a major gain for Netflix; the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup broke records by reaching more than one billion viewers.

On the other hand, FIFA has been subject to intense criticism in recent years due to gender inequality in sports. In response to these criticisms, the prize pool for the 2023 Women's World Cup was tripled to 150 million dollars. Furthermore, within the framework of a three-year gender equality plan, FIFA has committed to increasing the number of female employees in coaching and management positions and collaborating with UN Women.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the following regarding the agreement: "This partnership is a powerful message about the global value of the FIFA Women's World Cup and women's football. The joining of forces between FIFA and Netflix has been recorded as a historic day for broadcasting and women's football."