FIFA’s announcement earlier this month that Fox and Telemundo had won the television rights for the 2026 World Cup caught many off guard. No round of bidding had been announced, as with World Cups past, suggesting that FIFA didn’t give much consideration to other competition. According to the New York Times, FIFA’s decision was motivated by the desire to not get sued.
FIFA gave FOX the 2026 World Cup to avoid getting sued, according to report
FIFA seemingly made a hasty announcement that Fox would have the television rights to the 2026 World Cup. The organization’s secretary general told the New York Times, outright, that it was trying to not get sued.
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Fox will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well. However, after Fox had been awarded the rights to the two World Cup cycles, it was announced that the 2022 Qatari World Cup would be moved to winter to avoid scorching summer temperatures. The announcement was decidedly bad for Fox, which primarily serves an American market that may have trouble dividing some of its attention towards soccer while football, basketball and hockey seasons are in swing.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke told the Times outright that a hasty deal was made in order to avoid a potential lawsuit over a TV deal that was suddenly made much less lucrative. Fox’s deal is sweet -- in addition to hosting its third consecutive World Cup, the media giant will only pay 10 percent more for the rights over what it will pay for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which together are worth $425 million.
By comparison, the Times points out that British television networks Sky and BT had recently agreed to pay $7.8 billion to carry English Premier League games from 2016 to 2018 -- a full 70 percent increase over what the networks currently pay. The relatively cheap price tag for the 2026 World Cup will be an even bigger boon to Fox if the United States is selected as the host country.
The deal leaves ESPN -- television host of the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups -- out in the cold. The Times reached ESPN president John Skipper for comment:
“We’re puzzled as to why FIFA wouldn’t talk to their former partner, which did an outstanding job.” But, he added, he understood why it happened, thanks to Valcke’s comments. “They were forced to do it in order to avoid legal consequences,” Skipper said.
FIFA was the subject of an investigation into allegations of corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. An investigation report was filed, but has yet to be released by FIFA.
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