Sports Writing (EFE).- FIFA announced this Tuesday an agreement it called “historic” to make YouTube the “preferred platform” of the World Cup of 2026, which will be held between June 11 and July 19 in the USA, Mexico and Canada, with the aim of expanding the global reach of the tournament.
The alliance will allow audiovisual rights holders to use their official YouTube channels to offer content such as extended summaries, unpublished images, short videos and on-demand material, in order to increase interaction with fans around the world, FIFA explained in a statement.
Main new feature
As a major innovation, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, operators will be able to broadcast live the first ten minutes of each match via YouTube, in addition to broadcasting a selection of matches in their entirety in certain regions, which will facilitate access to new audiences, according to the organization.
Una persona observa el trofeo de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA en el estadio BBVA en Monterrey (México). EFE/Miguel Sierra
The agreement also includes the publication of premium content on FIFA’s official channel, as well as the dissemination of material from its digital archive, including complete historical matches and emblematic moments, to generate anticipation before the start of the tournament.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström highlighted that the collaboration will “reach fans around the world like never before” and strengthen the presence of the tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States “in the changing media landscape.”
For his part, YouTube’s Global Vice President of Media and Sports, Justin Connolly, emphasized that the platform seeks to offer a “global, interactive and fan-adapted” sports experience, and assured that this alliance will help attract a new generation of followers.
Participation of Content Creators
The collaboration will also include the participation of content creators from all over the world, “who will have unprecedented access to the tournament to generate exclusive content, from human stories to tactical analysis, contributing to offer new perspectives on the competition”.
