Apple Inc. (AAPL) is reportedly nearing a major television deal with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for a new tournament.
According to sources cited by The New York Times, the agreement would grant Apple the global television rights to a month-long, World Cup-style tournament featuring top teams. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the United States next summer.
If finalized, this deal would represent Apple’s continued expansion into soccer broadcasting following its 2022 acquisition of the streaming rights to Major League Soccer for $2.5 billion over ten years. The potential value of the FIFA deal, however, could be significantly lower than FIFA’s initial estimate of $4 billion.
It remains uncertain whether the agreement with Apple will include any free-to-air privileges. Some FIFA executives have reportedly expressed concerns about the possibility of the entire event being exclusive to Apple TV+ subscribers.
The reported deal between FIFA and Apple highlights the growing influence of technology companies in sports broadcasting. Similar to Apple, other tech giants like Peacock, Amazon Prime, and Netflix have also invested in sports content.
