FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, has opened up tender processes in Austria and Switzerland for media rights to the men’s World Cup 2026.

Media entities wishing to apply for rights to FIFA's prestigious tournament in three years have until 10AM CET on May 16 to do so, with FIFA having launched invitations to tender (ITT) in those two countries yesterday.

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Those wishing to participate in Austria should contact austria-media-rights@fifa.org, and in Switzerland by emailing switzerland-media-rights@fifa.org.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was shown across Austria by a combination of public-service broadcaster ORF and ServusTV, while in Switzerland SRG SSR held rights.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place across Mexico, the US, and Canada, meaning games held in primetime there will take place in late evening and in the early hours of the morning in central Europe.

The edition in three years' time will be the first FIFA World Cup to contain 48 teams, up from 32 at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

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Austria have not qualified for a World Cup since 1998, while Switzerland, on the other hand, have progressed from the tournament’s group stages at four of the last five editions.

FIFA has said the tender process “will allow FIFA to select the media companies that are best placed to achieve FIFA’s overall objectives to deliver high-quality, comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images