Just 11 months before the first-ever 32-team Club World Cup in men’s soccer, FIFA has announced it is seeking bids for broadcasting rights to the tournament’s 63 matches, which will take place in the United States.
FIFA issued an “invitation to tender” in regions including the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East & North Africa. This move follows recent reports of challenges in negotiations with tech giant Apple over a potential exclusive global rights deal.
FIFA also plans to sell broadcasting rights for the 2025 and 2029 Club World Cups in Europe at a later stage. The upcoming tournament, scheduled from June 15 to July 13, will feature 12 teams from Europe, including prominent clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.
The revamped Club World Cup has been a long-time goal for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, aiming to offer substantial prize money to participating teams.
However, discussions over a potential Apple deal raised concerns among influential bodies like the European Club Association (ECA), led by Nasser al-Khelaïfi of Paris Saint-Germain, also participating in the tournament.
FIFA has pledged to involve the ECA in a new style of consultation and decision-making regarding the tournament’s commercial aspects. The ECA already plays a significant role in decisions related to the UEFA Champions League through a joint venture with UEFA.
FIFA’s plans for broadcasting, including whether it will utilize its own streaming service FIFA+ in certain markets, remain unclear.
Teams qualify for the Club World Cup based on their performance in continental championships from 2020-2024, with just three spots yet to be decided: two from South America and one from Major League Soccer, the host league.
