Telecom secures World Cup 2026 television broadcasting rights - ARD and ZDF lose bid - Telecommunications company Telekom acquires broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup, leaving ARD and ZDF without television coverage
Deutsche Telekom Secures Exclusive Broadcasting Rights for 2026 FIFA World Cup
In a significant development for the world of sports broadcasting, Deutsche Telekom has secured the exclusive German rights to air all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, promises to be the largest in history with 48 teams and over 100 matches.
Their pay-TV platform, MagentaTV, will serve as the primary outlet for the tournament within Germany. The extensive rights package also includes other tournaments, such as the 2027 Women's World Cup and the U20 World Cups for juniors in 2025 and 2027.
Wolfgang Metze, CEO of Private Customers at Telekom, commented, "The Telekom has purchased the largest rights package ever." The comprehensive contract with FIFA spans a total of 272 live broadcasts.
Initially, there was uncertainty over where the matches involving the German national team, if qualified, would be freely available. However, the Broadcasting State Treaty ensures that these matches must be accessible free-to-air. Telekom could potentially offer these matches on free-to-air TV, but they have not made any confirmations as of yet.
It is worth noting that ARD and ZDF, who have historically shown matches involving the German national team, were absent from FIFA's bidding process. However, there is a possibility that these public broadcasters could acquire sub-licenses from Telekom, as was the case for the 2024 European Championship. This move aligns with Telekom's approach for sub-licensing rights to third-party broadcasters.
In terms of personnel, Johannes B. Kerner has been announced as the moderator for MagentaTV, while Wolff Fuss will provide commentary, including for matches involving the German national team. The opening match kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the final scheduled for five weeks later on July 19.
- Football World Cup
- Deutsche Telekom
- FIFA
Deutsche Telekom, with its exclusive rights, will air the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant milestone in sports broadcasting. The football World Cup, alongside other tournaments such as the 2027 Women's World Cup and the U20 World Cups for juniors in 2025 and 2027, forms a part of the extensive rights package purchased by Deutsche Telekom from FIFA.
