World football governing body FIFA may be in advanced negotiations with Apple to grant the technology company approval World television rights to a new major tournament, according to the New York Times.
This tournament, similar in format to the World Cup but with elite teams, will be held in the United States for the first time next summer and is expected to attract strong interest worldwide. After some setbacks due to the pandemic, FIFA is eager to hold this competition promoted by the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino.
Although it has been estimated that the deal’s value could reach $4 billion, sources suggest it could ultimately be significantly lower. Aside from that, There is uncertainty as to whether the agreement with Apple will result in the event only being viewable to Apple TV+ subscribers.
If the negotiations go through, it would be the first time FIFA has agreed to a single global contract for a tournament. The move would also be Apple’s latest foray into the world of soccer after the company signed a multimillion-dollar deal for streaming rights to Major League Soccer in 2022.
Streaming platforms’ interest in live sporting events has increased, with services like Amazon Prime streaming NFL games. Apple, for its part, has diversified its sports offerings with agreements to broadcast baseball games and now possibly the next FIFA tournament.
If the deal with Apple goes through, it could give the tournament the visibility and prestige that FIFA is seeking, and the tech company would use it to promote its streaming service.
