FIFA has launched FIFA+, a new streaming video service that will offer free live games from around the world as well as “Netflix-style” documentaries.
Advertisers are funding the new platform, which also includes an archive of every World Cup and Women’s World Cup match ever captured on camera.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “This project represents a cultural shift in the way different types of football fans want to connect with and explore the global game,”
FIFA is launching the service with a feature-length documentary on former Brazil and Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho, as well as a number of other films created by outside production companies under the banner ‘FIFA Originals.’
The live games will be geo-blocked to ensure that the service does not compete with existing competition rights holders. The matches will be archived, and highlights packages will be available.
FIFA said in a statement that by the end of 2022, FIFA+ will be streaming the equivalent of 40,000 live games per year from 100 Member Associations across all six confederations, including 11,000 women’s matches.
“FIFA+ provides live coverage of men’s, women’s, and youth football competitions from around the world, ranging from Europe’s top leagues to previously unseen competitions. From the start, 1,400 matches will be live streamed monthly on FIFA+, with that number rapidly increasing.”
FIFA’s primary source of revenue is television broadcast rights for the men’s World Cup, and while the organization has no plans to charge for FIFA+ content, it does expect to make money from advertising.
“There will be video advertisements, pre-roll advertisements, and banner advertisements. There will also be opportunities to co-produce branded content, as well as numerous other activation opportunities. That is the platform’s monetization story in a nutshell “In a conference call with reporters, Charlotte Burr, FIFA+ Project Lead, said.
An ‘all access’ series of six 30-minute shows featuring Brazil defender Dani Alves, created by his own production company Maracana Media, is also part of the launch.
The docuseries ‘Icons’ features five female athletes, while Captains is an eight-part series that looks at top national team captains as the World Cup approaches.
Fulwell 73, Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Productions, and Noah Media Group are among the production companies that have created content for FIFA+.