Media giant Disney has broadened its coverage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League club competition to Australia and New Zealand, following a five-year rights deal. This expansion is set to bring European soccer closer to fans down under.
The new agreement will enable the Disney+ OTT streaming service to broadcast all 75 UWCL fixtures per season live. The coverage begins with the 2025-26 campaign and extends through the 2029-30 season.
Disney-owned ESPN will produce these games along with additional content surrounding the fixtures. Select games will also be available on ESPN and ESPN2 linear channels via pay-TV operator Foxtel, streaming service Kayo, digital TV service Fetch TV, and pay-TV broadcaster Sky New Zealand.
Kick-off with Arsenal vs OL Lyonnes
Coverage commences with a thrilling opening clash between defending champions Arsenal and former eight-time champions OL Lyonnes. Several Australian national team players such as Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross (Arsenal), Tegan Micah (OL Lyonnes), Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea), and Winonah Heatley (Roma) are expected to feature this season.
This deal complements Disney’s existing rights in other regions including Europe where it struck a major deal earlier this year for coverage of all 75 games through the 2029-30 season. In addition to English-language broadcasts in Australia and New Zealand, Spanish-language rights for US & Latin America have been secured by Disney as well. In these regions too all matches are being aired via ESPN Deportes or streamed live on ESPN app.
Disney's reach extends even further into Sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa where one match per kick-off window airs on ESPN linear channels.
UWCL format changes and Heineken sponsorship
The UWCL is set to change its format for the 2025-26 campaign, moving to a league phase with 18 sides, followed by a playoff round. This increases the number of games on offer and provides more opportunities for fans to engage with the sport.
In related news, Dutch brewer Heineken has extended its sponsorship of the UWCL for another five years. The partnership aims to capitalize on UEFA’s new format that promises more high-profile matches and opportunities for fans to connect with brands sponsoring the competition.
Heineken will retain extensive rights including ticketing and hospitality, in-stadium visibility, digital campaigns, and unique fan experiences. This follows their long-standing partnership with men's Champions League which was recently extended through 2024-27 commercial cycle. Disney's expanded coverage of UWCL marks an exciting time for sports fans in Australia and New Zealand. With live broadcasts of all fixtures per season along with additional content surrounding them, Disney+ subscribers can look forward to an immersive soccer experience right from their living rooms.
