South Africa's public-service broadcaster, SABC, has once again partnered with soccer rightsholder New World TV to secure a broadcast deal for the upcoming men’s FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the women’s competition in 2027. The coverage of these major tournaments will be delivered in partnership with South African sports betting operator, Hollywoodbets.
The sub-license agreement secured by SABC paves the way for extensive coverage of both major competitions across a variety of its platforms. This includes their television channels such as SABC 1, SABC 3, and SABC Sport. Additionally, digital viewers will be catered to through the broadcaster's over-the-top service, SABC Plus. Furthermore, radio listeners won't be left out as a range of radio stations under the broadcaster's umbrella will also provide coverage.
The coverage will feature a total of 34 World Cup games and an additional 25 fixtures from the tournament in 2027.
Hollywoodbets backs rights acquisition
Hollywoodbets' support was instrumental in securing this rights acquisition. The company is no stranger to soccer branding placements; it has been prominently featured as the front-of-shirt sponsor for English Premier League club Brentford since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign.
Securing rights to broadcast these tournaments holds particular significance for South Africa. For instance, this marks a historic moment as it is the first time since hosting in 2010 that South Africa’s men’s national team has qualified for participation in a World Cup tournament. They are set to compete against Mexico during their opening match at venues spread across US, Mexico, and Canada.
On another note, qualification for Women’s World Cup scheduled two years later will be determined through performances at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations held earlier that year. This could potentially favor South Africa, which secured a fourth-place finish at the summer 2025 edition of the tournament.
SABC’s long-standing relationship with South African football
This move further strengthens SABC’s coverage of the South African national team. The broadcaster has maintained a relationship with the South African Football Association governing body for over three decades. Currently, it holds broadcasting rights for all men’s and women’s national team matches in a contract running through 2028. The addition of the 2026 and 2027 World Cups will enhance its coverage of each team's games.
New World TV (NWTV), a Togo-based satellite television network operating across sub-Saharan Africa, acquired regional media rights to both tournaments back in June. It is now seeking to secure sub-licensing deals across 43 markets, including South Africa, for free-to-air coverage. These markets span countries from Angola to Zimbabwe.
This partnership between SABC and Hollywoodbets marks an exciting development for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike as they look forward to comprehensive coverage of these major soccer events.
