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FIFA Includes 2034 World Cup in U.S. Media Rights Tender

FIFA seeks multi-cycle bids for media rights covering the 2030 and 2034 World Cup tournaments.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Soccer

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FIFA has officially included the 2034 World Cup in its current U.S. media rights tender, seeking multi-cycle bundles to drive significant revenue growth. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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FIFA has officially included the 2034 World Cup in its current U.S. media rights tender alongside the 2030 tournament. The organization is bypassing an exclusive negotiating window for incumbents as it looks to bundle these rights for the American market.

Why it matters

FIFA aims to simplify management by selling English and Spanish rights to a single company, projecting a 15 percent revenue growth for the 2027-2030 cycle. The move also reflects early planning for the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia, where potential climate concerns may necessitate a non-summer schedule.

FIFA targets $6.1 billion in total global media rights revenue for the 2027-2030 period. This cycle marks a significant jump from the $950 million paid by Fox and Telemundo for the 2026 U.S. media rights package.

The players

FIFA

The international governing body for association football, responsible for organizing major global tournaments including the World Cup.

Fox

An American commercial broadcast television network that previously secured U.S. media rights for FIFA tournaments.

Telemundo

A major American Spanish-language broadcast network that has historically partnered with FIFA for tournament broadcasting rights.

The details

FIFA is considering moving the 2034 Saudi Arabia tournament away from the summer to avoid extreme heat, mirroring the approach taken for the 2022 Qatar event. Because Ramadan runs from Nov. 12 through Dec. 10, 2034, organizers face complex scheduling decisions for that window.

Timeline

  1. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was held in November and December.

  2. Fox and Telemundo paid $950 million for 2026 rights.

  3. Bids for the current media rights tender are due November 19, 2026.

  4. FIFA intends to award the media rights by the end of 2026.

  5. Ramadan occurs from Nov. 12 through Dec. 10, 2034.

Season Trajectory

This tender marks a strategic shift in how FIFA manages its long-term broadcasting inventory by grouping future tournaments under one umbrella. The decision to consider a non-summer window for 2034 reflects the ongoing evolution of the international soccer calendar following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Viewers in the United States may see a consolidation of coverage across English and Spanish platforms if a single bidder acquires both packages. The final decision on the 2034 tournament schedule will ultimately dictate when fans can expect to watch matches, regardless of which network secures the rights.

The takeaway

FIFA is shifting its media rights strategy by bundling future tournaments, signaling a move toward more centralized broadcasting control. Readers should anticipate potential changes to the traditional summer World Cup window as the organization navigates climate and cultural considerations.

What happens next

Bids for the U.S. media rights tender are due on November 19, 2026, with a target date for awarding the contracts by the end of 2026.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest developments in Soccer.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportsbusinessjournal.

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