Matildas fans are set to be locked out of next FIFA World Cup after MAJOR announcement on the tournament’s future
- Australia reached the last four at the home tournament in 2023
- Record audiences and television audiences enjoyed their run
- A new scheme could exclude many of them before 2027
Matildas fans wanting to watch the Aussie stars at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil will have to pick up a Netflix subscription after the streaming giant snapped up the rights to the tournament.
Netflix will make history by streaming both the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups, following its debut in live sports streaming with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight earlier this year.
FIFA hopes the Netflix deal will expand the women’s game even further.
“This is a milestone for sports media rights,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“As a major brand and FIFA’s new long-term partner, Netflix has demonstrated a very strong commitment to the growth of women’s football.
“This agreement sends a strong message about the true value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and global women’s football.
Injured skipper Sam Kerr made a huge return for the Matildas at the 2023 Women’s World Cup
A legion of new fans came to watch the Matildas on their titanic killing spree in 2023
There is fear that fans will drop out now that the World Cup is on Netflix
“The partnership between FIFA and Netflix makes this a truly historic day for the broadcaster and for women’s football.”
It comes after the success of the recent Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Matildas reached the last four of the tournament and Australian viewers were able to watch every match for free, with Seven’s coverage reaching 18.6 million with a further 3.82 million on 7plus.
Not all fans are happy with the new Netflix arrangement, with many on social media complaining that lower-income households will not be able to watch the next two World Cups.
“When I see the news that Netflix has won the rights to broadcast the Women’s World Cup, I can’t help but think that children from lower-income families will be less able to watch… It just makes me a little sad,” she said. a fan.
‘Sorry, but this is so bad. “I most likely would never have been exposed to women’s football or the World Cup if there was a subscription service behind it,” another added.
“The fact that the next two Women’s World Cups will take place on a pure streaming platform is a huge step back for the growth of women’s football. This is a huge disappointment,” another lamented.
Netflix will also offer a documentary series to promote the event in the run-up to the World Cups.
“Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix isn’t just about streaming matches,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, said in a statement.
“It’s also about celebrating the players, culture and passion that is driving the global rise of women’s sport.”