Netflix, the global OTT streaming giant, has successfully acquired the rights to broadcast the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. This move marks a significant expansion of its coverage for this prestigious event.
Subscribers can look forward to comprehensive coverage as Netflix plans to showcase every game from both tournaments live across all subscription tiers. The service will also include studio shoulder content and ancillary programming such as pre-tournament documentaries and features.
This acquisition follows a similar deal that Netflix secured at the end of 2024 for broadcasting rights to these tournaments in the US. With this latest move, Netflix further strengthens its position in North America's crowded women's soccer space.
Replacing Bell Media as rightsholder
The new arrangement sees Netflix replacing Canadian TV heavyweight Bell Media, which had previously held long-term rights for broadcasting the Women’s World Cup via its linear network TSN.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup is set to take place in Brazil from June 24 through July 25. Meanwhile, according to FIFA, only US and Mexico are currently considered "valid bidders" for hosting rights for the earlier tournament scheduled for 2025. These two countries are also joint hosts of men's World Cup featuring an expanded roster of teams (48 teams) due in 2026.
Given Netflix's wide reach and more Canada-friendly time zones during these tournaments, viewership could potentially increase significantly. Data-based estimates suggest that there are approximately 9.05 million Netflix subscribers currently residing within Canada alone.
Expanding into live sports broadcasting
This development represents yet another step by Netflix into live sports broadcasting following their successful showcasing earlier this year of controversial boxing bouts including Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul match and a women’s lightweight championship bout between Ireland’s Katie Taylor and Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
Netflix chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, said:
“Our record-breaking success with Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor demonstrated the massive appetite for women’s sports and live programming.
“I’ve seen the fandom for the FIFA Women’s World Cup grow tremendously — from the electric atmosphere in France in 2019, and most recently, the incredible energy across Australia and New Zealand in 2023.”
The platform also holds global rights for WWE's weekly WWE Raw show, which it began broadcasting on January 6, 2025.
