Netflix in roads in streaming live premium sports continues. The streaming giant announcedthey will … [+] exclusively live stream every game of the 2027 & 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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In a further example of Netflix strategy of live streaming premium sporting events, the SVOD provider announced they had secured the exclusive U.S. rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for 2027 and 2031. This will be the first time the quadrennial global sporting event will be streamed. Netflix will have the rights in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The Netflix-FIFA pact covers all languages and will include both English and Spanish telecasts.
After years of bypassing premium live sporting events, the Netflix announcement comes in the aftermath of the live Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match of November 15. The event had over 60 million households and 108 million global viewers in becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever. Also, on Christmas Day, Netflix, for the first time, will exclusively live stream the NFL. In additon, starting on January 6, Netflix will be live streaming WWE Raw, as part of a 10-year, $5 billion agreement.
Furthermore, last month Netflix live streamed a boxing match between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. The match was available in the U.S. and U.K. and was the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history with 74 million live global viewers.
Leading up to their live coverage of the tourney, Netflix will be producing documentaries highlighting the top world’s top players, their background and the growing popularity of women’s soccer. In the past, Netflix has streamed the documentary Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team which chronicled the 2023 Women’s teams attempt to three-peat.
Also, Beckham, was an Emmy nominated documentary on the one-time soccer standout. Other soccer-related documentaries from Netflix include Captains of the World (in partnership with FIFA), Neymar: The Perfect Chaos, Sunderland ’Til I Die, Boca Juniors Confidential and upcoming documentaries on Vinícius Júnior and José Mourinho.
In a press release, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, noted, “This is a landmark moment for sports media rights. As a marquee brand and FIFA’s new long-term partner, Netflix has shown a very strong level of commitment to growing women’s football. This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game. FIFA and Netflix partnering together makes this a truly historic day for broadcasting and for women’s football. Besides broadcasting the tournaments themselves, Netflix will play a key role in terms of bringing the fascination of women’s football to a multimillion audience in the lead-up to both final tournaments, thereby enabling us to further increase their appeal.”
Female athletes have become household names as marketers invest more dollars, driving upward the value of franchises. As a result, Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecom report projects revenue from women’s elite global sports in 2024 will reach $1.3 billion, an increase of over 300% from 2021 and surpassing $1 billion for the first time. There is no sign this trend is slowing.
In a press release, Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said, “Our record-breaking success with Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor demonstrated the massive appetite for women’s sports and live programming. I’ve seen the fandom for the FIFA Women’s World Cup grow tremendously—from the electric atmosphere in France in 2019, and most recently, the incredible energy across Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix is not just about streaming matches—it’s about celebrating the players, the culture, and the passion driving the global rise of women’s sports.”
For the first time, Brazil will be the host nation of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 32-team, 64-game tournament will be played in venues across 12 cities. The tournament starts on June 24 and concludes with the championship game on July 25. The dates and host nation of the 2031 FIFA Women’s will be announced at a later time.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was won by Spain (over England). Team USA, the two-time defending champion, had been knocked out in the Round of 16. This was the earliest dismissal of any U.S. team in any Women’s World Cup. The USWNT however, roared back in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, capturing a record fifth gold medal in defeating Brazil 1-0.
The marks the first time FIFA has separated the media rights between the Men’s and Women’s tournament. The 2023 Women’s World Cup aired on Fox Broadcasting and Telemundo and streamed on Peacock. Fox will be airing the 2026 Men’s World Cup. The tourney will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
