ESPN is officially chasing the FIFA World Cup again. Chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed Thursday the network will bid on 2030 rights.
What We Know: Pitaro spoke at a CNBC and Boardroom conference during Fanatics Fest in New York. ESPN carried the World Cup for two decades before FOX Sports took over in 2018. Now, several reports peg the next rights deal at around $1.5 billion to $2 billion, a sharp jump from the roughly $485 million FOX Sports reportedly paid for 2026. Netflix and YouTube are also reportedly circling the rights. Netflix owns the rights for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
What They Said: ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro (via Deadline): “We had the World Cup for two decades and it was a big part of ESPN’s identity and DNA. Of course we’re interested.”
What Remains Unclear: FIFA has yet to hold formal talks with any bidder. A price tag is unknown. Meanwhile, FOX Sports benefited financially when the 2022 Qatar tournament shifted to a fall schedule. Netflix’s existing 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cup rights also raise questions about its men’s ambitions.
What It Means: Without a doubt, ESPN should be interested in returning to being the home of the FIFA World Cup. Moreover, the price tag will not the same from the last time the network owned the property. In addition, the price tag likely will skyrocket following this year’s tournament. Therefore, a crowded field, including Netflix and YouTube, could be more in play because of the companies that own them. While Pitaro is is signaling interest, there are still many hurdles to cross on whether it makes business sense for ESPN to carry the FIFA World Cup.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.