The FA Cup, England’s premier domestic knockout cup competition, has found its way back to German television screens. This development comes after the global sports streaming service DAZN secured broadcasting rights for the next three seasons. The agreement not only includes the FA Cup but also covers the Community Shield. The latter is a significant event that marks the beginning of top-flight English domestic season. It is contested between Premier League and FA Cup winners.
DAZN's coverage for this new cycle (2025-2028) kicked off with recent Community Shield match where Crystal Palace triumphed over Liverpool in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw at Wembley. Last season, neither the FA Cup nor Community Shield were broadcasted in Germany due to no broadcaster securing an agreement with the English Football Association for these rights. Interestingly, DAZN was previously holding these rights before they lapsed ahead of 2024-25 season.
This move by DAZN fills a gap left vacant last year and brings back popular English football events to German fans' screens once again.
Broader context
In terms of other English content available in Germany, pay-TV giant Sky holds broadcasting rights for both top-tier Premier League and second-tier English Football League matches.
However, it’s worth noting that this isn't DAZN’s only recent acquisition; they have also retained broadcasting rights to Spain’s LaLiga in Germany and Austria for another five years. Domestically speaking, along with Sky, DAZN holds broadcasting rights to matches from Germany's own Bundesliga league as well.
With these acquisitions under its belt – including bringing back beloved competitions like the FA Cup – it seems clear that DAZN is committed to providing a comprehensive and diverse range of football content to its viewers in Germany. This move not only enhances the viewing experience for sports fans but also offers exciting opportunities for sports betting enthusiasts.
