DAZN has obtained an exclusive option for the worldwide broadcasting rights to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. The streaming service's payment for the rights followed other broadcasters choosing not to bid, a transaction made possible by major funding from Saudi Arabia's Surj Sports Investment, which took a stake in DAZN.
This agreement offers crucial financing for the event's intended prize fund and business activities. Yet, this move occurs as DAZN deals with growing operational deficits.
Tournament planning remains unresolved
Preparations for the 2029 event are filled with doubt. FIFA has not selected a host location, determined the structure, or settled on how many clubs will take part. Talks have considered making the tournament larger, but nothing is final. Furthermore, terms for a partnership to run the competition's business affairs are not settled and could be delayed until after a key FIFA election.
Dispute delayed club payments
This arrangement came after friction between FIFA and clubs in Europe. A European club lobbying group warned it might pull its backing because of late payments of solidarity money due to clubs from a previous tournament. The group shared its "serious disappointment" about the holdup, a conflict that was later settled.
The champion of the earlier Club World Cup received a large sum from that event's prize money. The 2029 competition seeks to grow commercially but encounters major political and business hurdles. With fundamental details still unconfirmed, DAZN's financial support offers a base for the tournament's development as the streamer manages its own significant fiscal obligations.
Read the full report at The Guardian
