FIFA unveils soccer streaming platform FIFA+

FIFA has entered the streaming world and may also offer an indication of what is to come regarding broadcasts for competitions such as future World Cup tournaments beyond this year. 

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) and Nizaar Kinsella of Goal, FIFA launched FIFA+, the governing body's streaming platform. It is similar to services such as Netflix but is currently subscription-free and, per Jay Rigdon of Awful Announcing, ad-supported. 

Multiple documentaries are already available on the service, and FIFA announced that roughly "1,400 matches will be live-streamed monthly on FIFA+" from its launch. Because of existing television agreements, it's unclear exactly what live games will be available and when, but Alex Ritman of Hollywood Reporter wrote a majority of contests will initially be "limited to territories with lesser-known and underserved international leagues in countries such as Angola, Denmark, Mexico and Poland." 

Kinsella noted that FIFA "is willing to bring cameras to matches that are currently untelevised." However, no 2022 World Cup games will air live on FIFA+ this fall. 

"There is no plan to charge a subscription fee for the service, that doesn't mean to say that we may not evolve over time should there be a value proposition that allows us to charge subscription if we step into premium rights or adopt other kind of models," FIFA director of strategy Charlotte Burr explained. "But there will always be a free experience on FIFA+."