FIFA launches FIFA+ for Documentaries and Live Games

FIFA has launched a new streaming video service, FIFA+, which will provide free live games from competitions around the world plus ’Netflix style’ documentaries.

The live games will be geo-blocked so that the service does not compete with existing rights-holding broadcasters of competitions. The matches will also be archived and there are also highlights packages.

The new platform is advertiser-funded and also includes an archive of every World Cup and Women’s World Cup match ever recorded on camera. Fulwell 73, Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger Productions and Noah Media Group are among the production companies who have made content for FIFA+.

FIFA said in a statement, “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+ offers live coverage from Europe’s topflight leagues to previously unserved competitions from around the world in men’s, women’s and youth football. From launch, 1,400 matches will be live-streamed monthly on FIFA+, rising rapidly.”

FIFA is launching the service with a feature-length documentary on former Brazil and Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho along with a number of other films, under the title ’FIFA Originals’ created by outside production companies. The launch also features an ’all access’ series of six 30-minute shows featuring Brazil defender Dani Alves, created by his own production company Maracana Media.

Charlotte Burr, FIFA+ Project Lead said, “There will be video advertising, pre-roll advertising, there will be banner advertising. There will also be opportunities to co-produce branded content, for example, and plenty of other activation opportunities for partners. That is effectively the monetization story of the platform. It is free and the intention is it’s free forever. There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service.”