With the clock ticking down, FIFA finally announced on Wednesday a vital broadcast agreement with DAZN in a deal worth close to $1 billion for its first-ever Club World Cup. The high-profile tournament, which will bring together 32 men’s teams from various leagues worldwide, is set to take place next year in the United States.
This key deal was unveiled just one day before FIFA president Gianni Infantino was scheduled to conduct the draw for this month-long tournament. While the financial specifics of the arrangement remain undisclosed, insiders revealed that DAZN has struck a lucrative agreement with FIFA while also securing future broadcast rights options for the event. FIFA had previously anticipated raising roughly $800 million in television rights fees alone, part of a wider estimation of the event generating around $2 billion—a target many analysts deemed overly optimistic.
Initially, FIFA had pursued a global deal with tech giant Apple, however, that partnership fell through as the company deemed FIFA's financial expectations excessive, even after negotiations saw the figures drastically reduced from early estimates.
DAZN, a streaming service owned by British billionaire Len Blavatnik, has been actively expanding its soccer broadcasting presence, having acquired significant rights for various leagues and competitions across Europe. Despite its growth, DAZN has faced substantial financial challenges, accumulating billions in losses since its inception in 2016. Over the years, the company has adapted its approach and leadership, and recently formed a partnership with Saudi Arabia, enabling access to a wide range of sports content, including domestic soccer and combat sports.
With FIFA poised to award the host country for the 2034 men’s World Cup to Saudi Arabia next week, the growing collaboration between DAZN and the Gulf nation underscores the increasing significance of sports broadcasting investments in the region.
