Netflix NASDAQ:NFLX, Disney NYSE:DIS and Alphabet's YouTube (GOOGL) are reportedly preparing to challenge Fox NASDAQ:FOX for U.S. broadcast rights to the 2030 and 2034 World Cup, setting up a potentially expensive sports media fight.
CNBC reported that Amazon NASDAQ:AMZN and Apple NASDAQ:AAPL could also enter the mix, with FIFA expected to begin discussions with potential media partners within the next 3 months. FIFA has reportedly signaled that English and Spanish U.S. rights may be sold together, unlike prior tournaments.
The numbers could be massive. Fox paid $485 million for English-language rights to the 2026 World Cup, while NBCUniversal's Telemundo reportedly paid $600 million for Spanish-language rights. Media executives are now budgeting between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for U.S. rights to each tournament across languages.