Disney+ is set to become a major player in women’s football broadcasting, having secured a five-year agreement to stream every match of the UEFA Women’s Champions League live from next season. The deal marks a significant expansion of the platform’s sports coverage and a major shift in how European women’s football will be broadcast moving forward.
The move will see Disney+ stream matches across multiple European territories, including the United Kingdom, where it joins an already crowded broadcast landscape for women’s football. The BBC and Sky currently share Women’s Super League (WSL) rights, while TNT Sports and Channel 4 cover the Women’s FA Cup, and ITV and BBC show the England women’s team’s fixtures. Every WSL 2 game will also be available on YouTube next season.
Disney’s arrival as the sixth major broadcaster in the space is being viewed as a game-changer, both for its financial commitment and production quality. Although fans may need to juggle multiple subscriptions, it is believed some Women’s Champions League matches will be available free-to-air in the UK.
The deal is seen as part of a growing trend of major streaming platforms investing in women’s football. Netflix recently acquired the U.S. broadcast rights for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups, signaling the increasing commercial appeal of the women’s game.
Disney+ takes over from Dazn, which has broadcast the competition for the past four seasons. Dazn was credited with significantly boosting visibility, offering all matches for free and helping drive a 71% increase in watch time. In a statement, Dazn said: “We are proud to have delivered transformative growth as the global rights holder for the Women’s Champions League. Showing every match for free over the last four seasons we have grown the competitions visibility, driving a 71% increase in total watch time.”
The deal was finalized by UC3, a joint venture between UEFA and the European Club Association, ensuring club input in the negotiations. Two Circles, a specialist sports marketing agency, advised on the transaction.
Disney+ reportedly beat out rivals with a bid that was not only financially competitive but also rich in production innovation. The streaming giant currently boasts around 125 million global subscribers.
The timing of the announcement comes just ahead of this year’s Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon, where Barcelona will seek their third consecutive title against Arsenal. It marks Arsenal’s first final since their 2007 championship, still the only time a British team has lifted the trophy.
Next season, the competition will also debut a new format similar to the men’s revamped Champions League, shifting from a 16-team group stage to an 18-team league phase, followed by playoffs and knockouts.
Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have qualified for Europe next season, with United entering the qualification round in August.
