Apple is close to reaching an agreement to become the global broadcast partner for FIFA's upcoming World Cup for clubs, set to be played every four years starting in June 2025.
In late 2023, FIFA announced plans for the new 'FIFA Club World Cup', which will include 32 clubs from around the world, including 12 clubs from Europe such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, FC Bayern München, and PSG.
The New York Times now reports that Apple has emerged as the likely broadcast partner.
- "Should the deal go through, it would be the first time that FIFA, which will stage the first expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in the United States in 2026, has agreed to a single worldwide contract. It would also represent the latest foray into soccer for Apple, which in 2022 signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement for the global streaming rights to Major League Soccer," reports the New York Times.
The FIFA Club World Cup will be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. Plans to hold it in China in 2021 were scrapped due to COVID-19.
Apple TV+ or channel?
The deal could be announced as soon as this month, according to the report. Apple and FIFA declined to comment.
Apple is reportedly paying around $1 billion for the global television rights.
The FIFA Club World Cup is to be held next summer in the United States
- "It is unclear if the deal with Apple will include any free-to-air rights, meaning the entire event could be available only to subscribers of Apple TV+, a factor over which senior executives at FIFA have raised concerns," the report said.
The deal would bolster Apple's position in sports streaming, where Amazon, Google, and other streamers are also looking to compete, as traditional broadcasters have started to lose their leadership positions.
Apple's current sport offerings are available from the Apple TV app on its own devices as well as third-party devices such as Smart TVs. The company is experimenting with ways for more immersive viewing of sports in 8K 3D on the Apple Vision Pro.
For more details about the plans for the new FIFA Club World Cup visit fifa.com here.
- Source: The New York Times
