The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has launched a tender for Portuguese media rights to the 2026 World Cup matches. This move marks an exciting opportunity for broadcasters and networks in Portugal, offering them a chance to secure broadcasting rights for one of the world's most-watched sports events.
The Portuguese rights process went live recently, with a bid submission deadline set at 11:00 Central European Time on November 19. Interested broadcasters and networks can access the invitation to tender documents by emailing portugal-media-rights@fifa.org.
The upcoming 48-team tournament will encompass a total of 104 matches and will be hosted across Mexico, the US, and Canada. European qualifiers for this grand event are set to begin early next year. However, due to time differences between Portugal and the host nations, some fixtures - especially those on the West Coast of America - may occur in challenging time slots for Portuguese viewers.
Strong previous broadcast partnerships
For context, during the previous edition of FIFA World Cup held in Qatar in 2022 where Portugal was eliminated at quarter-final stage by Morocco; several broadcast partners including public-service RTP held broadcasting rights.
In recent times, FIFA has been successful in securing media rights deals with various entities around the globe. In September alone Dutch public-service broadcaster NOS extended its relationship with FIFA covering both upcoming tournaments in 2025 and 2030.
Other significant markets such as France, Brazil and Australia have also struck deals while host agreements have been made within US territories with Fox Sports and Telemundo (Spanish-language rights).
The centenary celebration
Interestingly enough, Portugal is slated as one of six host nations for the centennial celebration of FIFA World Cup scheduled for year 2030. Alongside Spain and Morocco hosting the majority of matches, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will each host a single fixture to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first-ever World Cup held in 1930.
This tender process for Portuguese media rights is not just an opportunity for broadcasters but also a chance for sports fans in Portugal to enjoy one of the most anticipated sporting events on their home turf. The excitement is palpable as we wait to see who will secure these coveted broadcasting rights.
