A massive blow for TF1. According to Le Figaro, the historic broadcaster of the Football World Cup has not acquired the rights to the next edition, organized from June 11 to July 19, 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Information that we are able to confirm. François Pellissier, deputy CEO of business and sport of the group, and Julien Millereux, the sports director, made the announcement this Tuesday to their teams, arguing that they had made a serious offer, rather above the two previous editions of 2018 and 2022 (estimated at €130 million each for the joint TF1-beIN Sports offer).
TF1 would not have liked to bid higher
On January 10, FIFA launched a call for tenders for the broadcasting rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups. Interested broadcasters had to make their offers before February 13, but TF1 would therefore have been beaten by another broadcaster. She would not have wanted to bid more and therefore refused to participate in a second round. According to RMC, the big winner would be M6, with the acquisition of full rights to the free-to-air matches of the 2026 World Cup. Contacted, the group did not wish to comment.
If confirmed, sub-licensing agreements could nevertheless still be signed by the start of the competition in just over two years. In 2008, for example, M6 acquired the entire Euro football tournament, before sublicensing part of it to TF1. If no agreement was reached, it would be the first time in history that the front page would not broadcast a Football World Cup match.
