Having received a big boost from the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, New Zealand football has been on the rise lately.
It is estimated that over 2.2 million people watched the FIFA World Cup 2023 in New Zealand, the co-host of the Women's World Cup 2023.
Such phenomenal numbers have pushed New Zealand to negotiate a deal with FIFA+ to provide its fans with free access to upcoming selective championship matches and those few from the archive featuring the New Zealand team.
The deal is already live with broadcasts of the Ford Football Ferns' international friendly match against Chile on September 23.
FIFA+ is free to use, and fans can enjoy live, on-demand replays of games as well as highlight videos.
Andrew Pragnell, CEO of New Zealand Football, had his enthusiastic response after the deal closed:
“Following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, where football was highly visible, a big priority for New Zealand Football has been continuing that momentum and making our games accessible to all Kiwis.
“Football is a game for everyone to enjoy. Its growth is unstoppable, and we don’t believe it belongs behind a paywall.
“Broadcasting has also changed, and it is time we stepped into the future.
“This partnership will see more football and futsal content than ever before, from our senior national teams to our domestic competitions, as well as an archive of previous international activity that will be added to over time.
“With full international schedules for our senior national teams, an expanded women’s National League Championship, and futsal being one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, this is a great time for the game in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and now people will be able to watch all of it for free.”
“This project will create a one-stop shop for all New Zealand football and futsal content that will be transformational to how people watch the game.”
Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief commercial officer, said:
“FIFA+ is committed to making football truly global by enabling supporters to watch and access live matches.
“We recently witnessed the greatest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and interest in the sport is only continuing to grow.
“This new addition to FIFA+ will allow football fans in New Zealand and further afield to watch their local teams, as well as their national teams, play on free-to-air television, thus helping to build momentum from the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
What can one access?
The deal brings the following events free of charge to its fans: the New Zealand Ford Football Ferns and All Whites international friendlies, the National League Championship, the Ford Futsal SuperLeague, and the Kate Sheppard Cup and Chatham Cup final stages, all of which will be available live and free on FIFA+.
The deal not only provides matches for these upcoming matches but also selective New Zealand content from previous FIFA tournaments, including World Cup highlights.
With time, more matches from the archives will be added. Furthermore, competitions within the country will be available worldwide, while international friendlies will be broadcast in New Zealand.
With the FIFA+ deal, New Zealand fans have got some exciting news, and it looks like it's just the beginning.
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