Netflix has acquired the broadcasting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain and Andorra, the platform announced on Tuesday.
Under the deal, the streaming service will show all 104 of the tournament’s matches live.
The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to take place across Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with three special centenary celebration matches also set to be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The move marks a significant step in Netflix’s strategy to expand its portfolio of live sports events and to compete with traditional television broadcasters.
In Spain, viewers will be able to watch at least one match per matchday free of charge. In addition, a nationwide free-to-air channel will be allowed to broadcast all of Spain’s matches, the two semi-finals, and the final.
“Few events unite people like the World Cup,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said, per the media company’s official companion site Tudum. “I was in the stands this year as Spain lifted the trophy and witnessed the passion, the pride, the stories – they all become part of a nation’s culture and are remembered for generations.”
Mattias Grafström, the secretary general of world football governing body FIFA, added: “We are pleased to build on our partnership with Netflix as we look ahead to the FIFA World Cup 2030.”
“Our shared ambition is to bring fans closer to the game and enable as many people as possible to share in the excitement of the competition,” he said.