FIFA names YouTube preferred platform for World Cup 2026 with live match sampling rights

FIFA and YouTube have agreed a partnership that will allow World Cup 2026 rights-holding broadcasters to stream the first 10 minutes of every match live on YouTube, with additional options to carry a select number of matches in full.FIFA said the arrangement is designed to widen reach and act as an entry point for digital-first viewers, while still pushing audiences towards full-match coverage with traditional broadcast partners.FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström said: “FIFA is delighted to welcome YouTube as a Preferred Platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026. By spotlighting FIFA’s premium content and unlocking new opportunities for Media Partners and creators, this agreement will engage global fans in ways never seen before.”He added: “As the world’s attention turns to the action in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this collaboration with YouTube reinforces our ambition to maximise the tournament’s impact across the ever-evolving media landscape, offering fans everywhere easy access to an immersive view of the biggest single-sport event in history.”The deal positions YouTube as a “preferred platform” in FIFA’s language, giving broadcasters new flexibility to publish short-form and on-demand content around the tournament.Media partners will be able to post extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, Shorts and video-on-demand programming on their own channels, broadening the amount of official match and tournament inventory available on the platform.FIFA said YouTube will also host content from FIFA’s digital archive, including full-length past matches and historic moments, adding a library component alongside tournament-time coverage.YouTube will work with FIFA and broadcast partners to give a cohort of creators access around the event, with FIFA signalling a plan for creator-led content ranging from behind-the-scenes storytelling to analysis formats aimed at attracting new audiences.Justin Connolly, YouTube’s vice-president and global head of media and sports, said: “YouTube is focused on delivering a global, fan-centric, interactive approach to sports entertainment, and we are proud to be a preferred platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”Connolly added: “Whether you’re a hardcore or a casual fan, this partnership will help usher in the next generation of fans while showcasing that no other platform unites the world around major moments like YouTube.”Financial terms were not disclosed.World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches, with FIFA and its commercial partners seeking to maximise audience reach and engagement across linear broadcast, streaming and social platforms.