Disney+ Enters Women’s Football Market with Champions League Rights

Disney+ is making a big move into the world of women’s football by securing the rights to broadcast live Women’s Champions League matches starting next season. This means that fans in multiple European countries, including the UK, will be able to catch all the action on the streaming platform.

The agreement between Disney+ and the Women’s Champions League is set to last for five years, marking a significant step forward in the coverage of one of the top club competitions in European women’s football. This move comes on the heels of Netflix securing the broadcast rights for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups in the United States last December.

With Disney+ entering the women’s football market, the UK broadcast landscape for women’s sports is expanding. The addition of Disney+ means there are now six major broadcasters covering women’s football in the UK. The Women’s Super League is shared between the BBC and Sky, TNT Sports and Channel 4 have the Women’s FA Cup, and ITV and the BBC cover England women’s team matches, with YouTube offering live coverage of WSL 2 matches next season.

While this variety of subscription services may raise concerns about the total cost for fans wanting to watch every game, there is also some good news. It’s been reported that there will be free-to-air coverage of the Women’s Champions League in the UK as well.

For the past four seasons, Dazn has been the go-to platform for live Women’s Champions League matches across Europe, with some games in the UK also shown on TNT Sports. Dazn has seen significant growth in viewership, thanks to their free coverage of the competition over the last four years.

Disney+ reportedly sealed the deal with a competitive offer and plans for high-quality production, reflecting their commitment to comprehensive coverage of women’s football. With around 125 million subscribers worldwide, Disney+ is set to bring even more visibility to the Women’s Champions League. The agreement was brokered by UC3, a joint venture between Uefa and the European Club Association, ensuring that club representatives were part of the discussions.

As the 2025 Women’s Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona approaches, fans can look forward to a new format for the competition starting next season. The format will resemble the revamped men’s Champions League, but on a smaller scale with an expanded league phase. British clubs Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have secured spots in the competition for next season, with Arsenal being the only British women’s team to have won the European title in 2007.

Exciting times lie ahead for women’s football with Disney+ joining the broadcasting lineup for the Women’s Champions League, offering fans even more ways to enjoy the beautiful game.