FIFA Secure Three More TV Rights Deals For World Cups Gaining Almost Two Billion

After awarding the US media rights last week, FIFA has continued to sell rights after agreeing three deals which has secured more than $1.85 billion for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Soccer’s ruling body extended agreements with SBS in Australia and IMC in the Caribbean region, while Bell Media was selected in Canada, the Zurich-based organization said in a statement today.

The World Cup is FIFA’s main source of income, with last year’s tournament in South Africa bringing in about $4 billion.

Secretary General Jerome Valcke said in the statement: “FIFA is delighted with the progress of our media rights sales to date which, coming amid austere economic times, more than confirm the strength and appeal of our competitions.” .

Last week, News Corp’s Fox was awarded the English-language rights in the U.S. to the tournaments scheduled for Russia and Qatar and other events between 2015 and 2022. Telemundo, part of Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal unit, has the Spanish-language rights.

Business Daily said Fox is paying $450 million to $500 million, as much as five times more than Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN paid for the current cycle which culminates with the 2014