FIFA has opened a bidding process for 2030 World Cup media rights in the United States and Puerto Rico, giving prospective broadcasters until Nov. 19 to submit offers.
The tender, announced Oct. 22, covers the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Proposals are due by 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 19, 2026. Applicants may bid for the 2030 tournament alone or include rights to the 2034 event. FIFA says it may select one or more entities. Its notice did not disclose an expected value for the rights.
FIFA has not published a date for choosing a rights holder. Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief business officer, told CNBC the organization intends to make its selection before 2027. CNBC also reported FIFA may meet with media companies in the United States after bids are submitted. Gai described FIFA’s approach as flexible, CNBC reported, quoting him as saying, “We want to be flexible.”
The U.S. audience figures FIFA cited included an average of 13.5 million viewers per match across linear television and streaming during the 2026 tournament’s 39 days and 104 matches. FIFA said that average was 166% higher than for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 2026 final averaged 63 million U.S. viewers, the organization said.
Fox Sports said in a 2015 announcement that FIFA extended Fox’s U.S. English-language rights through 2026 and also extended Telemundo’s U.S. Spanish-language coverage.
Morocco, Portugal and Spain are scheduled to host the main 2030 tournament, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay staging three centenary matches. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 event. FIFA says income from football media-rights sales supports the game globally, including through its FIFA Forward Development Programme. The next step for bidders is to submit proposals by the Nov. 19 deadline.
