The 2026 FIFA World Cup brings major new changes, setting historic precedents. The tournament, to be played in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 national teams and a total of 104 matches, significantly expanding the traditional tournament format-but that won’t be the only new development.
With the aim of continuing to expand the tournament’s global reach, FIFA confirmed a strategic agreement with YouTube on Tuesday.
What does the new agreement between FIFA and YouTube include?
The governing body of soccer announced a key agreement stating that the online video platform will be the preferred choice for broadcasting soccer’s premier event.
The goal is to enable more and more fans to enjoy this content. To achieve this, it was revealed that unprecedented special access has been granted, as audiovisual rights holders will be able to share exclusive content, highlights, clips, and on-demand material to expand global reach and engagement.
It was also revealed that audiovisual rights holders will have the option to broadcast the first ten minutes of each match live on their official YouTube channel-a first in the tournament’s history. Additionally, select matches may be broadcast in full via official channels on the platform, and there will be more opportunities to monetize content on the platform, changing the way the competition is followed.
Similarly, FIFA will provide special access to content creators so they can generate their own stories, analysis, and perspectives throughout the tournament and connect with their audiences.
As if that weren’t enough, it was also revealed that part of the content from the FIFA Digital Archive -such as full classic matches and many more iconic moments- will be available via its YouTube channel to build anticipation ahead of the tournament.
“This agreement will allow us to reach fans around the world like never before, by promoting premium FIFA content and providing new opportunities for broadcast rights holders and creators,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström.
Ultimately, this agreement between FIFA and YouTube marks a significant step toward the digital transformation of soccer, bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to new audiences and redefining the way millions of fans will experience the most important tournament on the planet.
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