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ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Confirms Interest In Bidding For World Cup Rights In 2030
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro has confirmed the sports network intends to bid for US broadcast rights to the 2030 World Cup, saying the tournament was "a big part of ESPN's identity and DNA" during its two-decade run with the broadcaster. Speaking at a CNBC-hosted event at Fanatics Fest in New York, he said ESPN remains "hyper-competitive" in rights negotiations, setting up a contest with Fox, which currently holds the rights, as well as reported interest from Netflix and YouTube.
FIFA has yet to open formal talks with prospective bidders and plans to expand the 2030 tournament from 48 to 64 teams, a change expected to boost its commercial appeal. Fox paid a reported $485 million for the 2026 rights, but recent reports suggest the next deal could fetch between $1.5 billion and $2 billion given a surge in ratings; Netflix has already secured US and Canadian rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women's World Cups. Pitaro also praised Fox's coverage of the current tournament and spoke positively about working under Disney's new chief executive, Josh D'Amaro.
In short
- ESPN confirms it will bid for 2030 World Cup US rights
- Next rights deal tipped to fetch $1.5bn-$2bn amid ratings surge
- FIFA yet to start formal talks; field expands to 64 teams in 2030
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
ESPN has a strong case for bidding: the World Cup has been central to its sports identity, and its experience could help it present the expanded tournament to a large US audience. Competition among established broadcasters and streaming services could also give FIFA more options and encourage bidders to offer a deal that reflects the tournament’s growing appeal.
The case against
A costly rights bid may be difficult to justify if the price rises towards the reported $1.5–2 billion range, particularly as ESPN would have to compete with Fox and new streaming entrants. FIFA has not begun formal talks, so the tournament’s expanded format and recent audience growth do not yet guarantee that the rights will deliver enough value to warrant such an investment.
Explained simply
The FIFA World Cup is the world's biggest football tournament, held every four years and watched by billions across the globe. Broadcasting rights to the competition are enormously valuable, with major media companies competing fiercely to secure them.
Fox currently holds the US broadcast rights to the World Cup. In 2030, the tournament is expanding from 48 teams to 64, substantially increasing the event's scale and commercial appeal.
Multiple companies are preparing to bid for the 2030 US rights, including technology platforms such as Netflix and YouTube. The previous contract was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars; the next deal is expected to command significantly more given the expanded tournament and growing interest in football in America.