Deutsche Telekom has made a significant stride in the German sports broadcasting industry by securing the live TV broadcast rights for all matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and UEFA Euro 2028. This move will see all games from both football tournaments aired live on MagentaTV, Deutsche Telekom's German TV platform.
A considerable number of matches will be exclusively available on MagentaTV. The platform is set to broadcast all 104 World Cup games and all 51 Euro fixtures live, with exclusive rights to air 44 World Cup and 17 Euro matches. These exclusive games include two quarter-finals and three round-of-16 ties from each tournament. The forthcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will feature an expanded format with a total of 104 matches. Out of these, MagentaTV has secured exclusive rights to broadcast as many as 44 games including eleven knockout stage encounters along with every match in the newly introduced round of thirty-two.
Similarly, for the European Championship scheduled for hosting by United Kingdom and Ireland in year 2028; it too will be shown entirely on MagentaTV which includes seventeen exclusive fixtures.
Sub-licensing deals with ARD and ZDF
In addition to its own broadcasts, Deutsche Telekom has also entered into sublicensing agreements with public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. As per this arrangement, both broadcasters are permitted to show thirty matches from the upcoming World Cup free-to-air along with seventeen fixtures from European Championship slated for year after next.
Arnim Butzen, Head of TV at Deutsche Telekom, said:
“With this rights package, we are once again underscoring that MagentaTV is the number-one destination for major football tournaments in Germany. Fans can watch every match of the World Cup and Euro, many of them exclusively with us. We’re excited to continue our football journey with millions of viewers and are now assembling a top-class team for the upcoming tournaments.”
MagentaTV’s popular conference mode feature is set to return during these tournaments allowing viewers an enhanced experience where they can follow simultaneous group-stage matches live while having an option switch between different ongoing games at their convenience.
Women’s football coverage
In a move that further solidifies Deutsche Telekom's commitment to football, the company will also stream all 64 matches of the Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil exclusively on MagentaTV. This is a significant step towards promoting women's football and providing fans with comprehensive coverage of the sport.
Deutsche Telekom's acquisition of these broadcasting rights marks a significant milestone in its journey within the sports broadcasting industry. It not only strengthens its position but also ensures that fans have access to extensive and exclusive coverage of some of the most anticipated football tournaments in the coming years.
