Disney ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro Confirms Interest in 2030 World Cup Broadcast Rights

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Disney will bid for the United States broadcast rights to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. He noted that ESPN carried the tournament for two decades and described it as a "juggernaut," adding that the rights package could be worth $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

Pitaro praised Fox's coverage of the 2026 tournament, which secured English‑language rights for $485 million, and acknowledged competition from other bidders such as Netflix and YouTube. He also referenced FIFA's plan to expand the field to 64 teams and the broader context of rising sports‑media fees, including ESPN’s relationship with the NFL.