Ligue 1+ World Cup TV deal faces late beIN Sports challenge | OneFootball

Ligue 1+ has reached agreement with FIFA to acquire broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup, but final sign-off has stalled amid a late beIN Sports push.

According to L'Équipe, FIFA turned to the LFP’s platform after months without concrete offers and settled on a package worth nearly €20 million for all 104 matches, with 54 co-broadcast by M6. Ligue 1+ secured LFP board approval and returned the FIFA-drafted contract before the 31 January deadline. beIN Sports, a regular carrier since 2012, maintains it offered more and earlier, a claim the report deems unlikely.

The 2026 tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

beIN Sports has now countered with a firm offer said to exceed Ligue 1+’s, also putting 2030 rights in Spain, Portugal and Morocco on the table, potentially with other properties.

Nicolas de Tavernost, chief executive of LFP Media, informed Nasser al-Khelaïfi of his intentions the weekend before meetings on Wednesday 28 January and the following day.

Ligue 1+ is awaiting FIFA’s decision and has asked for a swift ruling. If the outcome goes against it, the platform could pursue legal avenues. beIN Sports is also waiting for feedback.

Source: L'Équipe