International soccer’s governing body FIFA has begun the tender process for media rights to its revamped Club World Cup (CWC) competition in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, across the (inaugural) 2025 and 2029 editions.
The tender was launched with a bid deadline of 11am Central European Time on September 24. Invitation to tender documents can be obtained by emailing FCWC-media-rights@fifa.org.
The first-ever edition of the new FIFA CWC, to be held in the US between June 15 and July 13, will include 32 clubs (a significant expansion from previous editions) divided into eight groups of four, with 63 matches to be played in total.
Initial discussions between FIFA and global tech giant Apple about global streaming rights to the tournament have failed to produce a deal, necessitating a formal tender process.
In July FIFA launched the tournaments’ tender across the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the deadline having passed on August 20.
The talks between Apple and FIFA - originally reported in April - would have seen a deal of around $1 billion put in place, for worldwide rights.
The 2025 FIFA CWC will entail a new format in which FIFA’s continental governing bodies will all - apart from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) - receive multiple team slots.
Europe’s UEFA, with 12, will have the most teams involved. The line-up will include Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Red Bull Salzburg.
Other clubs will include Palmeiras (Brazil) and River Plate (Argentina), Al Ahly (Egypt) and Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Seattle (US) and Monterrey (Mexico), and Auckland City from New Zealand.
There are only two spots left to be taken for the 2025 edition, following Argentina’s Boca Juniors having recently sealed their place through the CONMEBOL rankings pathway last week.
FIFA has stated that it reserves the right to involve the participating clubs, such as those listed above, “in respect of the evaluation, assessment or decision-making elements of this ITT process.” This includes teams represented by the European Club Association, with which FIFA has an agreement.
FIFA is also currently selling media rights to its national team World Cups - men’s and women’s - over the next few years.
In mid-June, the Switzerland-based governing body launched the tender process for worldwide in-ship and in-flight media rights to its 2026 (men’s) and 2027 (women’s) World Cups.
