Fox, the US media giant, has already illustrated the benefit of its broadcasting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, with its fourth-quarter (Q4) and full-year financial numbers for the 2025-26 period showing dividends.
Across Q4 – the three months ending in June 30, 2026 – the firm generated $4.21 billion in revenue, up $925 million (28%) on the equivalent period a year prior, powered by a 78% year-on-year (YoY) increase in advertising revenue owing to the FIFA World Cup coverage (Fox was the exclusive English-language rightsholder).
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Over the full 2026 fiscal year (July 2025 to June 2026), Fox generated $17.13 billion in revenue. Up 5% year-on-year, that figure is a record for Fox, and resulted in a net profit of $1.73 billion, down from the $2.29 billion reported in 2025, a decrease that can be attributed to increased expenses, as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization costs) actually grew 8% year-on-year to a record $3.91 billion.
Those increasing costs came due to the FOX One OTT service launch, and as such, the higher cost of digital content observed through the period.
Speaking on the announcement, Fox chief executive Lachlan Murdoch said: “Fiscal 2026 was an exceptional year for Fox, capped by our broadcast of a remarkable FIFA Men's World Cup. We successfully launched our direct-to-consumer streaming service, Fox One […] enhanced Tubi's position as a leading streaming service, and announced the acquisition of Roku, which will transform the scope and growth profile of our company.
“Financially, these milestones were underpinned by the delivery of record top-line revenue, which converted into record EBITDA. With strong momentum across our portfolio, we enter fiscal 2027 exceptionally well-positioned to drive sustained growth and long-term shareholder value."
Fox (alongside NBC’s Telemundo) contributed to a record 62.8 million people that the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, with the Fox coverage in particular breaking the specific record for the most-watched soccer telecast in the US, ever, as well as the record for the most-watched World Cup final in the US.
The peak audience for that broadcaster's airing of the high-profile game was 51.7 million, with that figure coming in during the extra time period in which Spain's Ferran Torres netted the game's only goal.
During the World Cup in June, Fox also confirmed the aforementioned acquisition of Roku, the free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service, for $22 billion.
Both parties have said the deal will create the third-largest operator across TV in terms of viewing share, and that it is expected to close in the first half of 2027.
