The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has broadened its partnership with FIFA to include three additional markets. This expansion will allow the EBU to provide comprehensive coverage of the prestigious FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in 2026 and 2030.
The new agreement ensures that the World Cup matches will be broadcasted free-to-air in Azerbaijan (İctimai), Iceland (RÚV), and Malta (PBS). The coverage includes linear TV, digital broadcast, and radio platforms.
This move is a significant step forward for sports fans in these countries as it allows them access to one of the world's most-watched sporting events. It also highlights EBU's commitment towards expanding its reach across Europe.
Supplementing content with Eurovision News Network
In addition to live match broadcasts, viewers can look forward to supplementary content from Eurovision News Network - an international news exchange platform under EBU. This platform will provide ancillary content and shoulder programming throughout both tournaments.
As per current standings for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Iceland still holds a chance at securing a spot in the tournament while Azerbaijan could potentially secure a play-off berth. Unfortunately, Malta has been eliminated from qualification contention.
The upcoming tournaments are set to take place across multiple locations worldwide - with matches scheduled across North America for 2026 and Morocco, Portugal, Spain along with South America hosting games in 2030.
Building on previous agreements
This latest agreement builds upon previous partnerships between EBU and FIFA which granted rights for broadcasting the same tournaments within Bulgaria (BNT & BNR), Czechia (Cesky Rozhlas & Ceska Televize), Croatia (HRT), Hungary(Duna & MTVA) as well as Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation (2026 only).
The EBU has a history of securing broadcast rights for FIFA events, having previously secured the rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
This expansion of coverage by EBU is a significant development for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts in Azerbaijan, Iceland, and Malta. It not only provides them with access to live broadcasts of one of the world's most popular sporting events but also offers additional content through Eurovision News Network. This move further solidifies EBU's commitment to broadening its reach across Europe while enhancing its partnership with FIFA.
