BeIN Sports Wins 2026 & 2030 FIFA World Cup Rights in France

The battle for broadcast rights to the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups in France has taken a dramatic turn, with beIN Sports ultimately securing the package despite an initial claim of success by Ligue 1+, the streaming service operated by the French football league (LFP). The deal, reportedly worth around €60 million, includes all 104 matches from each tournament, with 54 games also being shown on free-to-air channel M6.

The outcome represents a significant victory for beIN, whose parent company, beIN Media Group, is chaired by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaïfi. It also marks a setback for Ligue 1+, which had prematurely announced securing the rights in late January, aiming to bolster its subscriber base and fill a summer content gap.

According to sources, the LFP, under the leadership of Nicolas de Tavernost, had initially believed a deal was in place for all 104 matches, envisioning the tournament as a key driver for attracting new subscribers – targeting 200,000 additional users – while retaining its existing 1.2 million. The package was designed to generate nearly €20 million, including €17 million in rights fees and €2.5 million in production costs.

However, FIFA has stated that no definitive agreement was ever reached with Ligue 1+, suggesting the LFP’s claim was premature. BeIN Sports, in contrast, successfully navigated the bidding process, securing the rights for approximately €27 million this summer and €34 million in four years’ time.

The situation has ignited tensions within French football, with beIN reportedly feeling targeted by the LFP in a continuation of long-standing media rights disputes. Yousef al-Obaidly, president of beIN Sports France, criticized what he described as “cynical media pressure” from Ligue 1+ in an internal email to staff, accusing a rival channel of attempting to influence the process through the media.

The fallout from the rights battle has already had significant consequences. De Tavernost informed the LFP board of his intention to resign, just nine months after taking the position. His departure is attributed, in part, to disagreements with clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, particularly regarding the strategic direction of the league and the allocation of resources.

Sources indicate that PSG, led by Al-Khelaïfi, viewed the loss of the World Cup rights as less critical, as it did not feature prominently in Ligue 1+’s initial business plan. However, the incident has thrown the future of LFP Media into uncertainty, particularly given the recent government probe into its operations related to a deal with CVC Capital Partners.

De Tavernost’s predecessor, Benjamin Morel, stepped down in late 2024 amid the investigation, and the LFP’s offices were raided by authorities in November of that year. De Tavernost will remain in his role until a successor is appointed, adding to the instability within the organization.

The loss of the World Cup rights is a blow to Ligue 1+’s ambitions to establish itself as a major player in the French sports broadcasting market. Launched in mid-July 2025, the service offered annual subscriptions for €14.99 per month and monthly subscriptions for €19.99. While it initially attracted over 1 million subscribers, with 72% opting for the annual package, the service faces a significant challenge in achieving the subscriber growth needed to generate sufficient revenue from media rights.

Analysts suggest that Ligue 1+ may need to triple or even quadruple its current subscriber base, or substantially increase subscription prices, to compensate for the lost revenue from the World Cup rights. This incident underscores the challenges facing the LFP in monetizing its direct-to-consumer streaming service and diversifying its revenue streams beyond traditional broadcast deals.

The situation highlights the increasingly competitive landscape of sports broadcasting rights, with major players like beIN Sports vying for exclusive content to attract and retain subscribers. The outcome of this particular battle will undoubtedly have ripple effects throughout the French football ecosystem, impacting the LFP’s financial stability and its long-term strategy for media rights distribution.