TNT Sports has secured some domestic US coverage of this year’s FIFA Club World Cup via a deal with DAZN, the primary rightsholder.
The Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) outlet will televise 24 of the 63 Club World Cup matches in the US, alongside its sister channels TBS and truTV.
DAZN also states that it will lend its production experience to TNT to enhance coverage of this year’s tournament, the first held under a newly imposed 32-team format.
TNT’s coverage will include English-language studio programming, ancillary programming and highlights, as well as discussion programmes such as TNT’s Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and B/R Football.
“Partnering with DAZN to present the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 further bolsters our sports portfolio this summer and brings another world-class event to our TNT Sports portfolio,” said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO at TNT Sports.
“We’re looking forward to this new partnership with DAZN as we collectively deliver this exciting new global soccer club competition in the US this summer.”
The partnership shows that DAZN is leveraging the considerable position it has built up in the global football broadcasting space in new ways, effectively sub-licencing its rights to broadcasters.
This may prove lucrative for the outlet, which has been enjoying substantial revenue growth over recent years but continues to post considerable losses – though it is confident that it can reach profitability.
Some of the company’s most notable football holdings include the domestic rights to Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 1 and the English National League System.
It also distributes various major tournaments like the Premier League, La Liga and Championship to international and regional audiences.
FIFA will likely be pleased to see domestic coverage of the Club World Cup expanded, with this year’s edition being the first under a new, and somewhat controversial, 32 team format.
The new format has attracted criticms for adding to an already packed football calendar, while the touranment has historically failed to capture the attention of European clubs and audiences.
In a huge development, FIFA announced that the total prize fund for the Club World Cup will be $1bn, in a move which has been widely seen as a bid to win over the interest of European teams.
The governing body will also be keen to further promote football (or soccer) to a potentially lucrative US audience, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup taking place in the country.
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, said “The combined expertise of DAZN and TNT Sports will deliver what FIFA and fans want – a tournament for generations to remember.
“With our new partners at Warner Brothers. Discovery, DAZN will enhance and expand production, marketing and ad sales for the tournament, to maximise engagement and reach and ensure that fans receive the very best viewing experience”.
