MADRID, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Streaming giant Netflix announced Tuesday that it has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights to the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain and Andorra, marking its first major venture into men's international football.
The company said it would stream all 104 matches of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three centenary celebration matches also taking place in South America.
"Few events unite people like the World Cup," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria. "With Spain set to host in 2030, we're thrilled to bring every match to fans across Spain and Andorra on Netflix."
Netflix confirmed that one match per round would be available free in Spain, while a package including all of Spain's matches, both semifinals and the final would be offered to a national free-to-air television broadcaster.
The arrangement will ensure that viewers without Netflix subscriptions can watch some of the tournament's biggest matches.
The acquisition marks a significant expansion of Netflix's live sports portfolio as the streaming platform moves further into broadcasting major sporting events. ■
