Following the acquisition of Australian pay-TV giant Foxtel by global sports streaming service DAZN, all 63 FIFA Club World Cup games will be available live and in high-definition on the full range of Foxtel platforms. This partnership is set to bring extensive coverage of the upcoming CWC soccer tournament to Foxtel subscribers.
DAZN secured global rights to the expanded, 32-team CWC late last year. The tournament is scheduled between June 14 and July 13 in the US. Since then, DAZN has struck sub-licensing deals for this club tournament across various markets.
This deal was made possible by DAZN's acquisition of Foxtel which concluded in early April. As a result, all CWC games will be broadcast live and in high-definition on Foxtel's linear channels – starting on channel 507 – and via Kayo Sports streaming platform.
Enhanced coverage
In addition to broadcasting live matches, a dedicated 24/7 channel will be established on both Foxtel and Kayo Sports platforms. This channel will feature "highlights packages" from each match along with "mini clips" and supplementary programming. The previous edition of the CWC was covered in Australia by Optus Sport but this new arrangement promises an enhanced viewing experience for fans.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group's chief executive, said:
"The addition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 to the Foxtel Group ecosystem unlocks the opportunity to extend our global content and rights to Australians on a platform they know and love. We are looking forward to providing more content benefits from the acquisition over the coming months.”
The upcoming 2025 CWC has been revamped with an enlarged format featuring not seven but thirty-two teams now. Unlike its annual occurrence previously, it will now take place every four years making it a quadrennial event. While DAZN is available in Australia, sub-licensing the CWC rights to Foxtel means that there are likely chances for increased traction and audience engagement for the competition.
Foxtel's sports rights portfolio
Foxtel has traditionally focused on sports such as cricket, Australian rules football, Formula 1, and golf. This new venture into soccer broadcasting marks a significant shift in its sports rights portfolio.
DAZN's acquisition of Foxtel was first announced in late December and represents a franchise value of A$3.4 billion ($2.2 billion at the time) for Foxtel. Despite this change in ownership, Foxtel will continue to operate “as a standalone business” while also benefiting from “DAZN’s global reach, market-leading technology, and investment in sports entertainment innovation.”
Foxtel has retained its own brand identity along with Kayo Sports and other platforms like Binge and Hubbi. In terms of other CWC sub-licensing deals globally, tie-ups have been unveiled over the last month in Russia (Okko) and the UK (Channel 5). This indicates an increasing global interest in this prestigious soccer tournament.
