Fifa, football’s global governing body, has renewed rights deals with the Fox network and pay-television broadcaster Telemundo in the US and with telecommunications company Bell Media in Canada.
The deals will cover the four-year cycle from 2023 to 2026, and include the 2026 World Cup. The rights will also feature the 2023 Women’s World Cup; 2023 and 2025 U-20 World Cup, U-17 World Cup and Beach Soccer World Cup; 2024 Futsal World Cup; 2024 and 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup and U-17 Women’s World Cup; and the 2025 Confederations Cup.
Fox acquired English-language rights in the US, with NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo picking up Spanish-language rights in the country.
In Canada, Bell Media will exploit the rights via pay-television channels CTV and TSN as well as French-language channel RDS.
The Guardian newspaper said that the rights were awarded in both countries without having been opened up to a bidding process.
All of the broadcasters had existing rights deals through to and including the 2022 World Cup.
The destination of the 2026 World Cup has not been determined yet.