FIFA’s announcement of a landmark deal with the sports streaming platform DAZN has generated significant excitement as it prepares to showcase the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With this innovative agreement, all 63 matches of the tournament will be streamed for free, marking it as the most accessible club football event to date, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
DAZN, often referred to as the ‘Netflix of Sport,’ has invested $1 billion to broadcast this newly expanded summer competition featuring 32 teams. Despite being better known for boxing events in North America and the U.K., DAZN aims to reach a broader audience across various markets by leveraging this high-profile tournament as a promotional campaign.
Shay Segev, DAZN’s CEO, indicated that this could be a transformative year for the company, with hopes to tap into new audiences and markets. Pete Oliver, the chief executive of growth markets at DAZN, is optimistic about reaching substantial viewership numbers, predicting that tens of millions of fans could tune into the matches.
While DAZN invests heavily in its future, the streaming service has faced scrutiny due to its historical financial losses. For instance, the company reported accumulated losses of $6.7 billion since its founding in 2015. However, Blavatnik, the majority owner, continues to back the company as it aims for substantial growth through strategic deals like the one with FIFA.
The streaming platform’s ambitious plans include a major technological upgrade for the Club World Cup, which aims to prevent the kind of streaming issues that had marred its coverage of Serie A matches in previous years. DAZN is confident in its new infrastructure and has invested significantly to ensure reliability during peak viewing times.
DAZN has also strategically partnered with other networks, such as TNT in the U.S. and Channel 5 in the U.K., for sublicensing opportunities to enhance the tournament’s visibility and viewer engagement. This collaboration is viewed as essential in light of current sluggish ticket sales in the U.S., aiming to capitalize on the rich narrative provided by iconic clubs like Real Madrid and Boca Juniors.
As DAZN sets its sights on securing a more prominent position in global sports broadcasting, this partnership with FIFA and the Club World Cup could serve as a cornerstone of its strategy to build a dedicated sports platform accessible to millions around the world. The hope is that this venture will ultimately pave the way for further collaborations that could include future World Cup events, thereby expanding DAZN’s reach and presence in the sports streaming market.
In a time when sports consumption is rapidly evolving, DAZN’s commitment to becoming a global home for sports has the potential to reshape how fans engage with their favorite teams and events, heralding a new era of sports broadcasting.