Italy’s national public broadcaster, Rai, has officially won the bid for the audiovisual rights to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The agreement ensures that a significant selection of the tournament’s matches will be accessible to the Italian public free of charge.
Key Details of the Deal
Under the terms of the assignment, Rai has acquired exclusive multi-platform free-to-air rights for a selection of 35 matches. The package includes:
- The Opening Match of the tournament.
- All matches featuring the Italian National Team (Azzurri).
- Both Semifinals and the Grand Final.
- Non-exclusive radio rights for every single match in the competition.
Extensive Coverage and Digital Presence
To ensure maximum exposure across Italy, Rai has committed to a robust broadcasting schedule:
- 32 matches are slated to air live on the flagship channel, Rai 1.
- Highlights and clips of every tournament match will be featured across all Rai news bulletins, sports programs, and official social media platforms.
“When great sport calls, Rai answers. We are happy to offer all Italians the chance to watch a live match every matchday,” stated Giampaolo Rossi, CEO of Rai. He emphasized that the coverage would be “exceptional” and “without compromise,” as fans look forward to the tournament hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Context: A Busy Day for Sporteconomy
The announcement comes amidst a flurry of sports business activity reported by Sporteconomy this February 26, 2026, including:
- FIDAL (Italian Athletics Federation): A new multi-year technical apparel deal with the Swiss brand “ON.”
- Juventus: The launch of a fourth kit for the 2025/2026 season in collaboration with Adidas and Studio Sgura.
- Formula 1 Marketing: Gillette joining forces with the Audi Revolut team.
- Infrastructure: New American funding for Cagliari Calcio to support their €200 million stadium project.