The Amazon Prime Video streaming service will cover action in Japan from South American national team soccer’s Copa America over June and July, it has been revealed.
Through the tie-up, Prime Video Japan will exclusively cover all group-stage games featuring heavyweights Argentina and Brazil at this year’s tournament, which will run between June 20 and July 14 in the US. In addition, all knockout matches from the 16-team tournament will be shown live.
This represents a significant rights addition in Japan for Prime Video, which up until this point has only covered boxing and baseball in terms of live sports in that market.
The last Copa America, in Brazil in 2021 (won by Argentina), was covered in Japan by Abema TV.
Media rights to this year’s edition are being distributed by Japanese heavyweight Dentsu, through a deal also covering the 2028 Copa America.
Japanese members of Prime Video will have access to Copa America action at no additional cost.
In total, the six group stage games involving Argentina and Brazil will be shown, as well as eight knockout games, with the final to take place on July 14 (the morning of July 15 for a Japanese audience).
With the time difference, all games covered by Prime Video will take place mid-morning in Japan (through being held in primetime in the US).
This year, the quadrennial Copa America, as well as the 10 South American sides, is featuring six teams from North and Central America (Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and the US).
In the US, the competition is being shown by Fox Sports and TelevisaUnivision (Spanish-language).