January 16 – In 2030, Spain will co-host their first World Cup since the fiesta hit Iberian shores in 1982, but before a ball is kicked, the all-important media rights are up for grabs.
In a process that will cover the 2026 World Cup – to be staged across Mexico, the US, and Canada – broadcast rights to the 2030 tournament that the Spanish are joint hosting with Portugal, and Morocco (with three games in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay) will also come under the hammer.
The invitation to tender in Spain went live yesterday (January 14), with a deadline for bid submissions of 10am (Central European Time) on February 18. Interested parties can request the necessary documentation by contacting gro.a1737002434fif@s1737002434thgir1737002434-aide1737002434m-nia1737002434ps1737002434.
The rights in Spain have moved around over the years between the public-service broadcaster RTVE, and most recently the Movistar Plus pay-TV channel.
- 2022: Mediapro (GOL Mundial)
- 2018: Telecinco, Cuatro and Be Mad TV
- 2014: Telecinco, Cuatro and Gol Televisión
- 2010: Telecinco, Cuatro and Digital+
- 2006: laSexta, Cuatro and Digital+
- 2002: Antena 3 and Vía Digital
- 1962–1998; 2022: RTVE
The competition to be the host broadcaster is expected to be fierce with Mediaset España, Telecinco, and Cuatro all expected to bid alongside pay-TV channels.
Linear free-to-air TV is still the dominant force in Spain with 78.4% of Spaniards preferring this platform over streaming services.
For the 2022 World Cup a selection of games were covered by public-service broadcaster RTVE, with pay-TV channel Movistar Plus covering all matches,
The question is, can free-to-air compete with the big boys of satellite pay channels, and will the Spanish public want to pay to watch their national team play on the world’s biggest stage?
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1737002434labto1737002434ofdlr1737002434owedi1737002434sni@o1737002434fni1737002434
