FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Apple that would give the tech giant global streaming rights for a new Club World Cup tournament featuring 32 top club teams from around the world.
According to the New York Times, the deal could be worth $1 billion – less than the $4 billion that FIFA had originally expected. Details are scarce on whether the tournament would stream exclusively on Apple TV Plus or if it would include free-to-air rights.
The 32-team tournament is scheduled to start in June 2025 and would feature club teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America.
FIFA has been trying to get some version of this tournament off the ground for years, but previous attempts have been delayed or canceled due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic and reluctance from broadcasters and sponsors to commit to FIFA’s asking prices.
If the deal with Apple goes through, it will mark the first time that FIFA has locked itself into a single global contract for viewing. It will also be a major coup for Apple, which has been investing heavily in live sports content for its streaming service, Apple TV Plus.
Both Apple and FIFA declined to comment on the potential deal negotiations.
