THE APEX TIMES
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Says Disney Unit Is Interested in Bidding for 2030 World Cup Media Rights
Speaking at Fanatics Fest in New York, ESPN’s chairman said the network’s long-running World Cup coverage helped define its brand, and that the company is considering another bid for the 2030 tournament.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro confirmed that ESPN’s parent company, the Disney media division, plans to be involved in the next round of negotiations for World Cup broadcasting rights, specifically referencing the 2030 tournament. Pitaro made the remarks during a CNBC-hosted conference on Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York.
Pitaro said ESPN had carried the World Cup for “two decades” and described the tournament as a major part of ESPN’s identity. He said, “We had the World Cup for two decades and it was a big part of ESPN’s identity and DNA,” during the event, according to Deadline’s account of the remarks.
Following that background, Pitaro said ESPN is interested in pursuing the rights again, adding, “Of course we’re interested,” in response to questions about future World Cup coverage. The comment frames ESPN’s position as one of continued engagement in a market where major sports rights can meaningfully shape audience reach and advertising value.
The statement also underscores the business stakes of the World Cup for major U.S. sports media platforms, especially for networks that compete for large-scale live sports audiences. ESPN’s characterization of the World Cup as central to its “identity and DNA” suggests that the company views the tournament not just as another property, but as part of its core programming strategy.
Fanatics Fest, which features brand and commerce programming tied to sports culture, provided the venue for the announcement. With the conference hosted by CNBC, the remarks were delivered in a public setting accessible to industry observers and media executives tracking sports-rights developments.
While Pitaro’s comments confirm interest in the 2030 rights, the Deadline report does not detail the formal bidding timeline, the scope of rights ESPN would seek, or the specific terms under consideration. For the next steps, any final outcome would depend on the rights process conducted by the tournament’s governing parties and the various media companies’ offers.
The disclosure arrives as U.S. sports networks and streaming platforms continue to weigh the value of live-event rights against subscription and advertising competition. A renewed World Cup package would likely affect how ESPN and its affiliates schedule marquee international matches for general audiences, youth sports fans, and families who follow soccer alongside other major sports.
Why It Matters
- The confirmation indicates that ESPN expects a continued role in one of the largest global sports events on the U.S. media calendar.
- World Cup rights can influence scheduling, production planning, and marketing commitments for years, meaning early interest statements can shape future business negotiations.
- A confirmed bid posture from a major U.S. sports network highlights the competitive nature of global sports-rights procurement and its impact on domestic viewers.
- If ESPN secures rights, it would likely preserve its long-running tournament presence that it described as central to its brand identity.
- The next concrete step would be the formal rights process, including any competing offers and the eventual selection of media partners for 2030.
Sources
Key Facts
- ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said ESPN’s Disney media division will bid for World Cup rights tied to the 2030 tournament.
- Pitaro made the comments during a CNBC-hosted conference Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York.
- Pitaro said ESPN carried the World Cup for “two decades.”
- He said the World Cup was a “big part of ESPN’s identity and DNA.”
- Pitaro said, “Of course we’re interested,” when discussing 2030 rights.
- Deadline reported Pitaro’s remarks from the Fanatics Fest event.