FIFA shuttering standalone streaming app in exclusive pivot to DAZN

This shift marks the end of FIFA’s attempt to build an independent direct-to-consumer destination and highlights the rising costs of maintaining proprietary streaming infrastructure. By outsourcing technical and commercial operations to DAZN, FIFA offloads significant overhead while gaining access to established distribution and a pre-aggregated global sports audience. For the ecosystem, it reinforces a trend where niche or specialized rights holders are abandoning standalone DTC models in favor of integration with dominant aggregate platforms. Specifically, watchers should track whether this migration successfully converts FIFA’s free registered user base into DAZN's paid ecosystem ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle.

The transition follows a reported 2024 effort where FIFA worked with UBS to raise up to $2 billion in outside investment to expand FIFA+, per Bloomberg and Reuters. Despite those efforts, the organization struggled to secure a major global streaming partner for its expanded 32-team Club World Cup 2025; internal negotiations with Apple reportedly stalled early that year. DAZN eventually stepped in with a landmark $1 billion agreement to stream all 63 matches of that tournament for free, serving as the proof of concept for the broader integration announced this month.

Financial filings from FIFA's 2025 annual report show the organization is on track to exceed its $13 billion revenue target for the 2023-2026 cycle, with 93% of budgeted revenue already contracted by late 2025. Although television broadcasting rights remain the primary revenue driver, contributing over $1 billion in 2025 alone, the pivot to DAZN suggests a focus on operational efficiency over platform ownership. By ceding direct control of the app, FIFA avoids the recurring capital expenditure required for global CDN maintenance and app development.

Simultaneous to this streaming shift, FIFA is diversifying its digital footprint through its new 'Digital Football Strategy,' per Sportspro. This includes the June 2026 release of its first non-EA Sports simulation video game on Netflix, titled 'FIFA World Cup: The Launch Edition.' These moves collectively signal a pivot toward a multi-partner distribution model, where FIFA licenses its brand and archival content to established tech and media giants rather than competing for direct user ownership.