FIFA Allegedly Tried To Take 2026 World Cup Broadcast Away From FOX
Whether you personally plan on watching the FIFA World Cup or not, it's expected to be the most-viewed event in the entire world. FOX has the exclusive broadcast rights to the event in the United States, but on a deal that FIFA reportedly got cold feet over.
According to Tariq Panja of the New York Times, FOX is only going to pay FIFA $485 million for the broadcast rights to the 2026 World Cup this summer. That number may sound huge but is believed to be worse far less than half of what FIFA might have been able to get if they opened it up to public bidding.
"Industry experts estimate he true market value today, had FIFA put the rights out to tender, at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion," Panja wrote.
In an effort to potentially get more value, FIFA reportedly made contact with FOX's legal team while exploring legal methods of rescinding the broadcast rights. However, after speaking with FOX's legal team and receiving a multi-page letter from the company, FIFA internally decided not to pursue the case.
"Contact was made with Fox and its lawyers. Fox was adamant the rights had been properly secured and even produced a letter of roughly 10 pages defending its position. Inside FIFA, there was also division over its legal position, and ultimately FIFA did not pursue the case further," Panja wrote.
FIFA vs. FOX
FOX was placed in the position to acquire the World Cup rights at such a steep discount thanks in no small part to FIFA's determination to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Through FOX's deal with FIFA over those broadcast rights, they were able to acquire a no-bid extension into 2026 if the schedule ever changed.
When FIFA was forced to move the tournament to November and December, FOX was able to get that extension. The end result is a substantial discount for FOX on a tournament that is likely to be among the most profitable in the history of sports.
It should be little wonder then that FIFA has yet to sell the broadcasting rights in the United States for the 2030 World Cup just yet.
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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 5:43 PM.