News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/24th April 2024
FIFA, the esteemed governing body of international soccer, is contemplating a groundbreaking initiative: hosting a World Cup-style tournament featuring 32 premier club teams from around the globe. As discussions unfold, Apple TV Plus emerges as a potential broadcasting platform for this momentous event, with talks between FIFA and Apple currently underway.
According to a report by the New York Times, FIFA is on the verge of finalizing an agreement with Apple, granting the tech giant global broadcasting rights for the prestigious tournament. Sources suggest that an official announcement regarding the deal could be imminent, possibly before the month draws to a close.
While specific details remain scarce, early indications point to a potential deal valued at $1 billion, significantly lower than FIFA’s initial expectations of $4 billion. The finer points of the agreement, including whether the tournament will be exclusively streamed on Apple TV Plus or if it will include free-to-air broadcasting rights, remain undisclosed. However, given Apple’s keen interest in live sports content for its streaming service, which currently features Major League Soccer matches and a weekly Major League Baseball doubleheader, it’s conceivable that Apple TV Plus could become the exclusive home for the Club World Cup.
Scheduled to kick off in June 2025, the 32-team tournament promises to showcase top-tier club teams from diverse regions across the world. Participating teams are expected to hail from Africa (4 teams), Asia (4 teams), Europe (12 teams), North America/Central/Caribbean (4 teams), Oceania (1 team), and South America (6 teams).
FIFA’s endeavor to establish such a tournament has been years in the making, with previous attempts thwarted by various challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to FIFA’s plans, forcing the postponement and eventual cancellation of the tournament slated for China in 2021. Furthermore, both broadcasters and sponsors have reportedly hesitated to commit to FIFA’s lofty financial demands, adding to the hurdles facing FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s ambitions. Thus, the current negotiations with Apple may represent a final opportunity for FIFA to materialize its vision for the Club World Cup.
Should the deal materialize, it would mark a significant milestone for FIFA, representing the first time the organization has entered into a comprehensive global broadcasting agreement. The move underscores soccer’s growing appeal as a sought-after content category for streaming platforms, with providers eager to attract viewership and subscriptions through exclusive sports content.
Streaming services like Peacock and Paramount Plus have already tapped into the popularity of soccer, securing streaming rights for English Premier League fixtures and the UEFA Champions League, respectively. Apple’s potential collaboration with FIFA signifies the tech giant’s ambition to bolster its content offerings and capture a larger share of the sports streaming market.
Both Apple and FIFA have refrained from commenting on the ongoing negotiations, maintaining a veil of secrecy surrounding the potential partnership. Nonetheless, the prospect of FIFA’s Club World Cup finding a home on Apple TV Plus signals a new era for sports broadcasting, one characterized by digital innovation and global accessibility.
