ESPN confirmed as third Copa do Brasil rights holder | OneFootball

On the morning of Monday (21), the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and ESPN confirmed the broadcast rights agreement for the Copa do Brasil for the 2027 to 2030 cycle. ESPN joins Grupo Globo and Amazon in the biggest rights deal in the history of Brazilian football, in a partnership worth more than R$ 4 billion for the cycle, an increase of more than 80% compared to the previous cycle, and marking a new era for the country’s most popular sport.

The 2028 to 2031 editions of the Supercopa Rei are also included in the package — the 2027 final is part of the agreement currently in force.

“This agreement is historic and shows the magnitude of the Copa do Brasil. It is a top-level competition that grows every year and has the support of fans and lovers of Brazilian football. We will have a great cycle between 2027 and 2030, with great matches and top-quality delivery alongside Grupo Globo, Amazon, and ESPN,” said Samir Xaud, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

“The Copa do Brasil is a unique competition in Brazilian football. It is the country’s broadest and most democratic tournament, bringing together clubs from every region and delivering great stories every year. It is a title coveted by the biggest teams and, at the same time, represents the opportunity for clubs of different sizes to dream of a historic campaign. It is a privilege to have the Copa do Brasil back on ESPN and Disney+,” celebrated Carlos Maluf, Head of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Brazil.

CBF President Samir Xaud highlighted the scale of the commercialization of the broadcast rights for the Copa do Brasil (2027 to 2030) and Supercopa Rei (2028 to 2031)Credits: Nelson Terme/CBF

The package breakdown for the 2027 to 2030 Copa do Brasil cycle:

-Package 1 Free-to-Air TV: Grupo Globo

-Package 2 Multiplatform: Grupo Globo

-Package 3 Multiplatform: shared by Amazon and ESPN

-Package 4 Near-live, Reacts, and Highlights: GETV

“We are very happy with this agreement. ESPN is a traditional channel that has broadcast the competition in the past, and we believe this new Copa do Brasil cycle will be a success. CBF will ensure top-tier, cutting-edge broadcast production, and ESPN, together with Amazon and Grupo Globo, will provide extensive coverage and excellent delivery for fans and clubs,” said Helder Melilo, CBF Executive Director.

CBF Executive Director of Management, Helder MelilloCredits: Nelson Terme/CBF

Starting next year, CBF TV will be responsible for producing the live feed for all matches and will distribute a single signal to rights holders, maintaining a consistent standard of quality and visual identity, as is done in CONMEBOL, UEFA, and FIFA competitions, and turning the Copa do Brasil into a fully integrated commercial product.

The change goes even deeper. By producing the feed, CBF will begin to offer commercial inventory during broadcasts, in line with the leading international benchmarks, adding greater value to the matches and making them more attractive to brands seeking to invest in one of the main competitions in Brazilian football.

This symbolizes another step forward in the federation’s communication strategy, which has made this department one of the priorities of the current administration. In just over a year, CBF strengthened CBF TV and positioned it as a new broadcast platform. Competitions such as the Women’s Brasileirão A1, A2, and A3, the Under-20 and Under-17 Brasileirão, the Women’s Copa do Brasil and Men’s Under-15 Copa do Brasil, Copa Verde, Copa do Nordeste, Under-20 Brasileirão Série B, and Development Leagues were all on the schedule this year.

The amounts reached in the negotiation were made possible by the overhaul carried out in the Copa do Brasil. The number of participants in the tournament increased from 92 to 126 (in 2027 it will be 128), as did the number of matches (from 122 to 155 in 2026 and, from 2027 onward, 157) and the length of the competition, which is now played throughout the year.

Already implemented in 2026, the single-match final closing the national calendar also ensures greater sporting, commercial, and tourism appeal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.