Netflix has signed an exclusive agreement in the U.S. for both the 2027 and 2031 versions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be exclusively streamed. It shows further that the house is deepening its live sports business to more high-profile content offerings for its customers.
It is a move that coincides with Netflix’s inaugural National Football League (NFL) Christmas Day broadcasts. This is the latest move that cements Netflix as a leading player in sports streaming.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria spoke about the cultural importance of this agreement: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a celebration of athletes, fans, and the global rise of women’s sports.” Bajaria also spoke of the phenomenal fan energy experienced in the past World Cups held in France in 2019 and Australia/New Zealand in 2023.
2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Netflix
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be staged across 12 cities in Brazil, while the hosting location for the 2031 tournament has not yet been announced. Netflix is promising to cover the matches, studio shows with expert commentary, and original documentaries that would highlight the players and their inspiring journeys.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has seen rising global popularity, particularly in the U.S. In 2019, more American viewers tuned into the Women’s World Cup final than the Men’s World Cup final in 2018. Although viewership dipped in 2023 after the U.S. team’s early exit, interest in women’s sports continues to grow.
Netflix’s Strategic Sports Expansion
It forms part of the bigger push into live sports from Netflix. The service, boasting 282.7 million subscribers worldwide, has utilized its lower-tier ad-supported tier to bolster growth overseas.
The last few weeks saw Netflix stream a Mike Tyson-Jake Paul bout, watched by 108 million viewers. It also is slated to broadcast an NFL Christmas Day double-header between some of the game’s most marquee teams: the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
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