World Cup rights and NFL rights could be on the market at the same time

Key Points:

• Fox's current contract for the World Cup ends with the 2026 tournament, which it secured for a relatively low price of $485 million, considered equivalent to a second full NFL regular season of content.
• The broadcasting rights for the 2030 World Cup in the U.S. are open for bidding, with competition expected between traditional networks and deep-pocketed streamers, as the event spans six countries across three continents.
• Netflix holds the rights to the Women's World Cup in 2027 and 2031, and its experience with the 2027 tournament may influence its interest in future international sports broadcasting deals.
• FIFA's sale of World Cup rights is not constrained by antitrust laws, allowing it to potentially command a much higher price for the 2030 rights, with estimates suggesting at least $1 billion due to increased interest, more matches, and expanded advertising opportunities.
• The 2030 World Cup broadcasting deal will coincide with the next round of NFL broadcast negotiations, likely intensifying competition for sports broadcasting budgets in the U.S. market.