TVNZ has scored exclusive rights to broadcast the world’s largest sporting event – next year’s Fifa World Cup.
All 104 football matches will be screened, including the New Zealand All Whites’ first appearance at the tournament since 2010.
Viewers will be able to watch some matches free-to-air on TVNZ 1, or fans can purchase a one-off event pass on TVNZ+ for “comprehensive and uninterrupted coverage of all matches, replays and highlights”.
The event pass is the first time TVNZ has charged viewers for content and has been described as a “gamechanger”, enabling the broadcaster to competitively bid for and acquire more sports rights.
The 2026 Fifa World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and will feature an expanded 48 teams. This includes the All Whites, spearheaded by Premier League superstar Chris Wood, who have qualified for the tournament for the first time since they went unbeaten in the round robin stage in South Africa in 2010.
TVNZ will screen the matches over 39 days when the tournament is held in June and July next year.
All the All Whites’ matches will be broadcast free-to-air on TVNZ 1 alongside a selection of other games. The World Cup draw in early December will determine the three sides the Kiwis will face in the round robin group stage of the tournament.
Fans who purchase an event pass will also have access to every game live on TVNZ+, along with replays and highlights packages. The full details of the paid and free-to-air offerings will be announced later.
TVNZ’s rights package also includes free-to-air coverage of the Under-17 and under-20 men’s and women’s World Cups this year and in 2026.
TVNZ chief executive Jodi O’Donnell said winning the World Cup rights was a “huge moment” for the broadcaster.
“Football is one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand.
“The UEFA Euros and Wrexham FC matches saw big audiences for TVNZ. With the All Whites in the mix, we are so excited to bring the Fifa World Cup to Kiwis next year and give them more opportunity to get swept up in football fever,” she said.
“Today’s announcement of a new pay TV service, offering New Zealanders the opportunity to buy a one-off event pass to the Fifa World Cup is a gamechanger for TVNZ.
“Launching a pay product means TVNZ can competitively bid for and acquire more sports and serve it to audiences in the ways they want to watch it – whether it’s every moment live, or free-to-air on our channels.”
The Fifa World Cup is the world’s largest sporting event, with the 2022 tournament in Qatar watched by 5 billion fans across all platforms.
Argentina’s defeat of France in the final set a new record of 1.42 billion viewers.
The Fifa World Cup deal is the third key sports rights announcement TVNZ has made in the past month.
Last week the broadcaster confirmed it was the new home of grassroots rugby, with select free-to-air coverage of NPC, Heartland Championship and Farah Palmer Cup matches from next year.
TVNZ will also screen next year’s domestic ANZ Premiership netball competition on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
