SportyTV, a prominent African sports media platform, has successfully secured pay-TV rights to the international soccer's grand event - the 2026 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This significant deal will enable SportyTV to broadcast all 104 matches from this year's tournament.
The tournament is set to take place across Mexico, the US, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. It will be hosted by 16 cities across these countries. All matches will be accessible on SportyTV’s OTT platform and mobile app for fans' convenience.
In addition to live match action, SportyTV promises comprehensive coverage with pre- and post-match analysis from its studios located in Cape Town and Madrid. The platform aims at offering a “fully integrated 360-degree content strategy,” which includes always-on digital output, social-first storytelling, and real-time fan engagement.
Elías Gallego, Sporty Group vice president of business development, said:
“We are building an ecosystem where content, technology, and engagement converge to deliver something entirely new to fans. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the perfect stage to showcase that vision.”
Free-to-air rights held By SABC
While SportyTV holds the pay-TV rights for this year’s World Cup in South Africa, free-to-air rights are held by public-service broadcaster SABC. This was made possible after SABC struck a sub-license deal with soccer rightsholder New World TV last December.
SABC currently broadcasts all men’s and women’s national team matches under a contract that runs through till 2028.
SportyTV made its debut in South Africa last year when it acquired rights to the revamped FIFA Club World Cup international club competition. Since then it has expanded its operations into several major African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.
Bafana Bafana returns to the field
The upcoming World Cup holds special significance for South African fans as their men's national team – known as Bafana Bafana – returns after missing out on the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions. This will be their first appearance since hosting the major tournament in 2010.
Bafana Bafana is set to feature in the opening World Cup match against Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The anticipation and excitement among fans are palpable as they eagerly await this historic moment.
SportyTV's acquisition of pay-TV rights for the World Cup marks a significant milestone for sports broadcasting in Africa. It promises an immersive viewing experience for soccer fans across South Africa and other African countries where it operates.
