TF1 secures World Cup rights

French commercial broadcaster TF1 has secured the rights to broadcast the 28 top matches from the 2018 and 2022 FIFA football World Cups, as well as coverage of the 2019 Women’s World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup.

TF1 said the deal meant it had secured broadcast and digital rights to the top four international football competitions.

The broadcaster will air the 28 top matches for each of the Russia and Qatar World Cups, including the 16 top encounters of the qualifying rounds, the five best second-round matches, the three top quarter final matches, both semi-finals, the final and the third-place play-off.

TF1 has all rights to the Women’s World Cup for 2019, which will be held in France, and the Confederations Cup.

“We are delighted with this historic agreement with FIFA which allows the group to hold rights to four major world football competitions for the next six years and thus to enrich the offering of its channels and digital outlets, with the greatest sporting events. These acquisitions, which conform to our responsible policy on the purchase of rights, are in line with the ambition of the group to propose big event, emotion-generating content free,” said Nonce Paolini, CEO of TF1 Group.