After the financially successful 2026 World Cup, FIFA considers joint sale of rights for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments and bundling language packages in the U.S. Lucrative hydration breaks are also on the agenda.
The world football governing body (FIFA) is preparing significant changes in how it sells television rights for future World Cups. According to information published by Bloomberg on Saturday, August 8, 2026, and reported by Sportske novosti, one of the key options under discussion is bundling the rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups into a single major media package.
This move follows the extraordinary financial success of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament demonstrated the immense commercial potential of football in the North American market, and FIFA now aims to capitalize on the increased interest from audiences, broadcasters, and streaming services to secure even more lucrative deals for upcoming competitions.
Discussions about the new sales model are still in their early stages, and the final format has not been defined. One option under consideration is combining the television broadcast rights for English and Spanish within the United States.
Previously, these rights were mostly sold separately, but a combined package could give FIFA a stronger negotiating position and spur fierce competition among the largest American media companies and streaming platforms.
In the broader story of increasing revenue, hydration breaks play a significant role. During the 2026 tournament, these breaks evolved beyond their original purpose of protecting players from extreme weather conditions. They provided broadcasters with additional advertising slots without interrupting play, thereby gaining significant commercial value.
Due to the split of the half into two parts, the term "quarters" began to be used in football terminology for the first time. Although this approach has drawn some criticism, hydration breaks are expected to remain an integral part of future World Cups, precisely because of their dual sports and commercial function.
Selling the rights for two World Cups in a single package, along with the possible bundling of U.S. media rights and the retention of lucrative hydration breaks, clearly indicates the direction FIFA is thinking. FIFA is seeking ways to convert the interest generated during the 2026 World Cup into a sustainable and even more profitable business model for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments.
