Public broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has doubled down on its major rights coup for soccer’s flagship FIFA 2026 World Cup by adding games involving the All Whites national team in the run-up to the tournament.
The deal, struck with the New Zealand Football governing body, will see all matches played by the All Whites before next year’s World Cup, being held across the US, Canada, and Mexico, aired across TVNZ and its TVNZ+ streaming service, as well as the FIFA+ platform.
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Coverage will start with the Soccer Ashes, the home and away series between the All Whites and Australia’s Socceroos, in Canberra (September 5) and Auckland (September 9), respectively. Both games will be aired on TVNZ’s DUKE channel and TVNZ+.
Games in 2025 include the All Whites taking on top European sides Poland (October 10) and Norway (October 15), as well as two yet-to-be-announced fixtures in November.
The new rights come shortly after TVNZ announced it will launch its first pay-TV offering after winning a landmark agreement to air the 2026 World Cup.
The broadcaster said while it will still show all matches involving the All Whites national team, along with other select games, on a FTA basis, access to the entire tournament schedule will only be made available to those who purchase an event pass on its streaming service TVNZ+.
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By GlobalDataIt will be the first time that TVNZ has charged fees for access to its content.
TVNZ replaces the country’s dominant pay-TV broadcaster Sky NZ, which held the main rights in New Zealand to air the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as Amazon Prime and media company Stuff, which showed select games FTA.
