Netflix has secured exclusive streaming rights to broadcast all 104 matches of the 2030 World Cup in Spain, the company announced Tuesday. The deal includes provisions for a free-to-air public broadcaster in Spain to show at least one match per day, including every game featuring the host nation, both semifinals, and the final.
Spain will co-host the centenary edition of the tournament alongside Portugal and Morocco, with the opening three matches taking place in South America across Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. After those initial games, the competition moves to southern Europe and North Africa. Netflix’s agreement covers the Spanish market exclusively for the matches staged in Spain.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. For context, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE paid around 55 million euros ($61.6 million) for the rights to the 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held across North America. Netflix’s entry into live men’s World Cup coverage follows its 2024 agreement to stream the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups in the United States.
Netflix confirmed that the free-to-air broadcaster will have access to the most high-profile matches, ensuring national audiences can watch the host nation’s games and the tournament’s climax without a subscription. “As part of the agreement, one match per matchday will be available for free in Spain,” Netflix said in its statement. “A package of matches, including every Spain match, both semifinals and the final, will be made available for broadcast on a national free-to-air broadcaster.”
The location of the 2030 final remains undecided amid competition between Spain and Morocco, with both countries vying to host the match. The choice has taken on political dimensions at both national government and FIFA levels. FIFA president Gianni Infantino reportedly has close ties to Moroccan football, complicating the decision.
If Spain hosts the final, it would likely take place at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Morocco’s candidate venue is the King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, which is currently under construction and planned to seat 115,000 spectators.
Netflix’s bid for the 2030 Spanish rights signals a shift in how major football tournaments are broadcast. FIFA has traditionally favoured public broadcasters to maximize viewership, but this partnership blends streaming exclusivity with guaranteed free-to-air access. Netflix’s previous football rights deals have focused on women’s tournaments and U.S. markets, making this its first major men’s World Cup venture.
The 2030 tournament’s format will feature 48 teams, an expansion from previous editions. The co-hosting arrangement is unique, with matches spread across three continents to mark the 100th anniversary of football’s most prestigious event.
FIFA is expected to confirm the hosts for the 2031 Women’s World Cup next month, which will be shared between the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. The organization’s increasing partnerships with streaming platforms like Netflix suggest a broader strategy to diversify broadcasting across regions and platforms.
Netflix’s announcement confirms the company’s growing involvement in live sports rights at the highest levels, combining global streaming reach with local broadcast access. The World Cup in Spain will be the first occasion where Netflix holds exclusive rights to a men’s tournament of this scale in a major footballing nation.
According to Yahoo Sports.
