beIN SPORTS USA, a leading sports network, is reportedly in discussions to acquire the US media rights to Portugal’s Primeira Liga matches.
This development follows last week's revelation that beIN SPORTS renewed its Ligue 1 matches rights until the end of the 2028/29 season. The negotiations between executives at Primeira Liga and beIN SPORTS began after concerns were raised about GolTV's financial stability. Despite losing many subscribers over recent years, GolTV has managed to retain the rights for Portuguese, Uruguayan, and Peruvian leagues.
When approached by news portals for comment on this matter, a spokeswoman from beIN SPORTS stated: “beIN SPORTS is focused on delivering top-quality content to North American fans like Ligue 1 and don’t have anything else to share at this moment.”
If an agreement can be reached between beIN SPORTS and Liga Portugal’s governing body, it is reported that games will likely be produced out of MediaPro offices located in Mexico City. Currently, GolTV broadcasts games in both English and Portuguese languages.
The impact of Portugal’s football factory
The opening game of Liga Portugal's 2024/25 season took place on August 9th when Sporting Clube de Portugal triumphed over Rio Ave with a scoreline of three goals to one. Portugal's league has earned itself a reputation as one of the world's top "soccer factories," consistently producing technically gifted talent. Many promising players from Primeira Liga feature for Benfica, FC Porto, or Sporting CP before moving onto larger European clubs.
In addition to being a breeding ground for talent development these three teams are also a destination for quality players seeking to participate in the UEFA Champions League matches. It is common to see players moving from South America to Portugal as a stepping stone before progressing on to the Premier League or La Liga. A recent example of this is Enzo Fernández, who moved from River Plate to Benfica, before transferring to Chelsea.
As per Opta Power Rankings in March 2024, Primeira Liga was rated as the seventh-strongest soccer league worldwide based on its competitiveness. This potential acquisition by beIN SPORTS USA could significantly enhance their sports content portfolio and provide North American fans with more access to top-tier international football.
