Sport 24, the in-flight and on-ship entertainment service owned by international sports agency IMG, has secured live rights for soccer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. This deal will allow all matches to be broadcast across the Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra channels during the national team competition.
The agreement with FIFA ensures that all World Cup matches will be available to viewers travelling by air or sea. The broadcasts will be accessible via the Sport 24 entertainment service, which is available on numerous airlines and cruise ships worldwide.
The tournament is set to take place in three North American countries: the US, Canada, and Mexico. It will run from June 11 to July 19 next year.
History of comprehensive coverage
This isn't a first for Sport 24; it marks their fourth consecutive edition of broadcasting men’s competition. During their coverage of the previous edition -the Qatar-based FIFA World Cup in 2022- they aired more than 175 live hours of content reaching an audience of approximately 1.4 million passengers inflight.
Sport's reach extends far beyond just one event or mode of transport. The channel is available on over 610 aircrafts including those operated by Etihad Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.
Richard Wise, senior vice-president of content and channels at IMG, said:
“Sport 24 is all about bringing passengers live coverage of the world’s greatest sporting competitions, wherever they are in the world.
“We are delighted to once again broadcast extensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup live across our channels.”
Moreover, the service can also be accessed aboard 119 cruise ships including vessels from Carnival Group, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Fred Olsen.
More than just football
Produced from IMG’s production HQ at Stockley Park, Sport provides comprehensive coverage across multiple sports disciplines. In addition to soccer, it offers live broadcasts of European club competitions organized by UEFA, motor racing’s Formula1, basketball’s NBA, American football’s NFL (inflight only), all golf majors, the four tennis grand slams, and several cricket tournaments.
The service also recently extended its partnership with Asian soccer’s AFC governing body to cover its continental competitions through 2028-29. FIFA has been releasing the tenders for next year’s tournament in several regions including Germany, Spain, and Hong Kong. In terms of recent deals, December saw the BBC and ITV retain men’s World Cup rights in the UK. Meanwhile, Netflix made a significant move by securing rights in the US to broadcast the women's tournaments in 2027 and 2031.
Sport24's acquisition of live rights for soccer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup is a testament to their commitment towards providing comprehensive sports coverage across multiple platforms. This deal will ensure that sports fans around the world can enjoy every moment of this highly anticipated event from wherever they are.
