Is DAZN bidding big bucks on the next FIFA Women’s World Cup?
Is DAZN bidding big bucks on the next FIFA Women’s World Cup?
A new report indicates an unnamed streaming service has lodged the highest bid for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA tournaments so far.
FIFA’s negotiating teams aren’t getting a lot of rest this holiday season. The global governing body for soccer is trying to work through bids for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cup tournaments, and reporting up to now has pointed to linear networks like Fox and NBC — and by extension Peacock — as the most likely partners. But a new report from Puck's John Ourand indicates that the highest bidder for the rights so far is a streamer, and though the bids are sealed, it’s likely that the sports streaming service DAZN is in hot pursuit.
Key Details:
- FIFA has entered into exclusive negotiations with this unnamed streamer for the World Cup rights.
- Ourand says the mystery bid is the highest of those received by FIFA so far.
- DAZN is reportedly paying as much as $1 billion to stream the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
FIFA is now negotiating exclusively with the unnamed streaming service, which is a good indication that whichever platform it is has the inside track to winning Women’s World Cup rights in 2027 and 2031. Ourand reports that FIFA was originally seeking $130 million per event for the tournaments, which is a hefty sum, considering how few commercial opportunities there are in international football matches.
The bid from this as-yet-unidentified streaming service is the largest FIFA has received so far, as the soccer organization has told CBS, Fox, and NBC executives. Its use of the phrase “non-traditional” media company points directly to a streamer, and the fact that DAZN and FIFA have had recent dealings suggests that the sports-focused service is the most likely candidate.
DAZN officially locked up rights to the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 last week, reportedly agreeing to pay as much as $1 billion for the tournament. The streamer will offer every game of the Club World Cup for free to all viewers around the globe who can access it.
If DAZN is the mystery bidder for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups, it serves as an indication that the streamer isn’t too worried about its bottom line. The service lost more than $1 billion in 2022, leading to questions about the wisdom of its plan to offer all Club World Cup games for free. There are reportedly close links between DAZN and the Saudi royal family, which means an infusion of cash from the country’s Public Investment Fund could be in its future.
The waiting game to determine which platform will host the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups begins. It could be a short wait now that FIFA is negotiating exclusively with a mystery streamer for the rights, but if those talks fall through, it could circle back to broadcast networks to start the process over again.
DAZN
DAZN is a live sports subscription streaming service that offers 80+ fights a year from Matchroom USA, Bellator, Golden Boy Promotions, World Boxing Super Series, and Combate Americas. All plans include UEFA Women’s Champions League, darts, and documentaries.