DAZN just locked the exclusive option to stream the 2029 men’s Club World Cup worldwide. Could this cement its comeback in sports broadcasting?
Backed by Saudi investors, the streamer rescued FIFA last year when linear TV networks balked, shelling out $1 billion (£745 million) for the inaugural 32‑team U.S. tournament.
Apple TV walked away from a proposed 2025 global deal after clashing over price, leaving FIFA’s later attempt to sell rights regionally in tatters.
DAZN’s surprise late offer, buoyed by Surj Sports Investment’s 10 % stake, effectively funded FIFA’s $1 billion prize pool, with champions Chelsea pocketing roughly $114 million (£85 million).
Despite a subscriber base exceeding 300 million, DAZN still posts losses—its 2025 accounts show operating deficits climbing from $772.9 million to $939.8 million. In my view, the company is betting heavily on rights to revive its fortunes.
The exact trigger price for the Club World Cup option remains undisclosed, yet it grants FIFA breathing room ahead of the second expanded edition, a venture designed to generate huge revenue yet still tangled in political controversy.
EFC’s ties with FIFA have warmed since the scrapped Forward Enterprise scheme, but the two sides haven’t settled the minutiae of a joint commercial venture, which may stall until after the March presidential vote.
If Infantino secures another term, Morocco—co‑host of the 2030 World Cup—looks set to host the 2029 Club World Cup, thanks to his close bond with King Mohammed VI.
A dual‑host format with Spain is also on the table, while Portugal, another 2030 co‑host, reportedly hesitates. I expect the final venue decision will surface by mid‑2025.