TNT Sports continues its opportunistic push for new sports rights.
The Warner Bros. Discovery division has inked a deal with the global sports streaming service DAZN to televise many of the matches from this year’s FIFA Club World Cup. The event will kick off June 14 in Miami, and sees 32 of the world’s best soccer clubs facing off in a global tournament. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey July 13.
TNT Sports will televise 24 of the 63 matches on TNT, TBS and TruTV, including the knockout rounds and final. DAZN is the global rightsholder for the FIFA Club World Cup.
The two companies will also co-develop studio programming, as well as digital content on Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. They will also work together on cross-promotion, marketing, and advertising sales.
“Partnering with DAZN to present the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 further bolsters our sports portfolio this summer and brings another world-class event to our TNT Sports portfolio,” said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports, in a statement. “We’re looking forward to this new partnership with DAZN as we collectively deliver this exciting new global soccer club competition in the US this summer.”
“The combined expertise of DAZN and TNT Sports will deliver what FIFA and fans want – a tournament for generations to remember,” adds Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group. “With our new partners at Warner Brothers. Discovery, DAZN will enhance and expand production, marketing and ad sales for the tournament, to maximize engagement and reach and ensure that fans receive the very best viewing experience.”.
TNT Sports has been getting creative in its sports rights deals since losing live NBA rights in the U.S. last year. Sublicensing deals, such as the one with DAZN, have emerged as one pillar of that strategy, alongside strategic deals for upstarts like Unrivaled. The company also secured college football games in a deal with ESPN.
The U.S. will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, with Fox and Telemundo holding the U.S. TV rights.