Ligue 1’s in-house streaming platform submits surprise bid for France’s World Cup broadcasting rights | OneFootball

Ligue 1+ – Ligue 1’s in-house streaming platform – have submitted a surprise bid to broadcast all 104 games of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to L’Equipe. Such a move would provoke a significant change in the landscape of France’s broadcasting rights of footballs’ biggest events, considering that beIN Sports were the go-to channel for international football men’s tournaments, although a free-to-air channel – M6 – will also broadcast 54 World Cup games.

The outlet understands that LFP Media CEO Nicolas de Tavernost has announced this Wednesday, during Ligue 1 and Ligue 2’s executive committees, that he has an agreement with FIFA for the broadcasting rights of next summer’s tournament in exchange for a €20m package fee. Broadcasting the World Cup for a whole month would allow Ligue 1+ to fill its slots between the seasons of club football.

The initiative still needs to be ratified by the FIFA Council. Although the latter is seen as a formality, it remains to be seen how beIN Sports would react to losing the tender process for broadcasting rights of this importance. L’Equipe adds that PSG and beIN Media Group chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is a close ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as well as a sharp critic of Ligue 1+.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval