DAZN has expanded its soccer coverage in Spain, securing pay-TV rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup through a deal with Mediapro, the sports agency announced on February 6, 2026. The agreement grants DAZN exclusive distribution of Mediapro’s Spanish pay-television channel for the tournament, broadcasting all 104 matches of the competition.
Mediapro initially acquired the pay-TV rights to the World Cup in March 2025. Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE simultaneously secured the free-to-air package. A subsequent deal between Mediapro and RTVE in September saw the agency acquire exclusive pay-TV rights to 71 of the 104 World Cup games, with non-exclusive coverage rights for the remaining 33.
DAZN will leverage a 24/7 dedicated World Cup streaming channel, “Gol Mundial,” distributed by Mediapro, to deliver the tournament to Spanish viewers. This marks the first time DAZN will broadcast the FIFA World Cup, offering both live and on-demand coverage, including matches featuring the Spanish national team, currently considered a strong contender for the title.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from to , will be a landmark event as the first to feature an expanded 48-team format. This expansion promises a more inclusive and competitive tournament, with increased opportunities for nations to participate on the world stage.
This latest acquisition further strengthens DAZN’s position as a leading sports broadcaster in Spain. The platform already boasts a comprehensive soccer portfolio, including rights to LaLiga, the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and the German Bundesliga. The addition of the World Cup underscores DAZN’s commitment to providing Spanish soccer fans with access to the most prestigious international competitions.
Beyond the World Cup, DAZN has forged a strategic partnership with FIFA that includes the global relaunch of the FIFA+ streaming service later this year. This collaboration signifies a broader commitment to digital innovation and expanding access to soccer content worldwide. The details of the FIFA+ relaunch were not specified, but the partnership suggests a deeper integration of FIFA’s content within the DAZN ecosystem.
The deal with Mediapro highlights the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting rights. Traditional broadcasters are increasingly competing with over-the-top (OTT) streaming services like DAZN for exclusive rights to major sporting events. This trend is driven by changing consumer habits, with a growing preference for on-demand and digital viewing options. DAZN’s success in securing the World Cup rights demonstrates its growing influence in the sports broadcasting market and its ability to compete with established players.
The Spanish market is particularly competitive, with several major broadcasters vying for soccer rights. RTVE’s acquisition of the free-to-air rights ensures that a significant portion of the population will have access to World Cup matches, while DAZN’s exclusive pay-TV coverage caters to a dedicated audience willing to pay for premium sports content. This dual-pronged approach ensures broad accessibility while also maximizing revenue for rights holders.
DAZN’s coverage will exclude live broadcasts of matches involving the German, Austrian, and Swiss national teams within their respective home markets, as those rights are held by free-to-air broadcasters ARD and ZDF in Germany, Servus TV in Austria, and SRG SSR in Switzerland. However, DAZN will air those games on a delayed basis, ensuring that Spanish viewers can still follow the progress of their favorite teams and players throughout the tournament.
The acquisition of the World Cup rights is a significant win for DAZN, solidifying its position as a key player in the Spanish sports broadcasting market. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, DAZN is poised to deliver comprehensive coverage of the tournament to its subscribers, further enhancing its value proposition and attracting new customers. The expanded 48-team format and the tournament’s unique tri-nation hosting arrangement promise to make the 2026 World Cup a truly global spectacle, and DAZN will be at the forefront of bringing that spectacle to Spanish viewers.
