One broadcaster wants scale, the other wants survival as FOX and Ligue 1+ chase World Cup audiences
FOX Sports has rolled out a record-breaking broadcast schedule in the US ahead of the World Cup, while France’s Ligue 1+ has taken a major leap from domestic streaming to full national distribution, securing rights to all 104 matches in the country.
With the World Cup fast approaching, one of the biggest questions for fans is simply where to watch it. As club football becomes increasingly fragmented across competing platforms, clarity has never mattered more.
Both FOX Sports and Ligue 1+ now provide that clarity, each landing significant FIFA rights packages in their respective markets. Yet while both are making substantial bets on the sport’s biggest global event, the thinking behind their deals diverge in notable ways.
FOX is prioritising scale and mass reach across broadcast television and streaming, while Ligue 1+, still in its early stages, is using the World Cup to drive subscriptions and establish itself as a national broadcaster.
A look at the details
FOX Sports will air all 104 matches, with 70 on broadcast television and 40 in primetime, a US record. Every game will also stream live in 4K on FOX One and the FOX Sports App, with coverage of the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) opening on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Tubi, FOX’s ad-supported streaming service, will simulcast the opening match in Mexico City and the US opener. A dedicated World Cup Hub will feature original content, including a docuseries following top players.
In France, Ligue 1+ has acquired all 104 matches, including 54 already held by free-to-air broadcaster M6. The reported €20m deal covers rights and production, with this being the platform’s first major international property.
Ligue 1+ bets big on the World Cup
Ligue 1+ is using the 2026 World Cup as both a statement and a stress test for its streaming platform. Still in its early stages and yet to fully establish itself in France’s sports media market, the league owned service has now secured rights to all 104 matches of the tournament.
The timing matters. Ligue 1+ was built primarily around domestic football, which leaves a major content gap during the off season. Given the platform has already shown signs of struggles to grow its subscriber base any downtime represents a real commercial risk.
By filling the summer calendar with football’s biggest global event, Ligue 1+ is hoping to retain existing users while attracting new audiences who may not have previously considered the service.
There is also a broader strategic signal. Following recent turbulence around domestic rights, the LFP has positioned Ligue 1+ as both a recovery tool and a long term distribution model. Securing the World Cup suggests the league is prepared to compete with established broadcasters not only for club football but for national sporting moments.
FOX goes all in on mass market reach
FOX Sports is approaching the 2026 World Cup from a very different angle. Rather than using the tournament to build a platform, the network is using it to dominate the summer sports calendar and reshape football’s place in US mainstream television.
Soccer has traditionally struggled to secure consistent primetime slots in the US, but FOX will place 40 matches into evening windows, opening the tournament to casual viewers and higher value advertisers.
Equally notable is the inclusion of Tubi. The ad-supported streaming service will simulcast selected matches for free, including the opening game and the USMNT opener.
With more than 100 million monthly active users, many of them Gen Z and Millennials, Tubi gives FOX a direct route to younger audiences who may not pay for cable or premium subscriptions.
