FIFA Renew EBU Partnership For 2018 & 2020 WC

FIFA and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have agreed a renewed deal for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which will cover the rights for 37 countries within Europe.

The EBU described the deal as a “significant extension” of the current contractual set-up for the 2014 World Cup media rights. The contract does not include major European media markets such as England, France, Italy and Spain, with FIFA seemingly set to agree individual deals in these countries.

EBU president Jean-Paul Philippot said: “We are honoured and proud that FIFA has placed its complete trust in the EBU and its participating members for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups broadcast coverage. This contract is a humbling compliment, and testament to the EBU’s reputation as an ideal partner in the sports media rights industry.”

Following on from the significant EBU agreement, FIFA also confirmed that deals have been agreed with German state broadcasters ARD and ZDF for the 2018 World Cup only. Public-service broadcaster SVT has agreed a contract to televise the 2018 and 2022 tournaments across Scandinavia. FIFA secured its first broadcast partner for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in January 2011 after extending its existing deal with Al Jazeera Sport across 23 territories and countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In October, FIFA followed up its bumper US broadcast deal by announcing further agreements in Australia, Canada and the Caribbean. Fox, Telemundo and Futbol de Primera Radio secured the US broadcast rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in a deal worth $1.2 billion.