M6 bets everything on the 2030 World Cup, no sharing

The 2030 World Cup is already taking shape on the broadcasters' side. While the choice of the stadium that will host the final has not yet been decided by FIFA, M6 has already set its strategy for the competition's broadcast. The French channel intends to broadcast the full 54 matches exclusively on free-to-air.

Two venues in contention for the final

Co‑organised by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the next World Cup will be contested across two continents. But it is especially the organisation of its final that is already sparking debate, with two venues competing: the Bernabéu in Madrid and the future Hassan II stadium in Benslimane.

While awaiting FIFA's decision, M6, on its side, has anticipated the deadlines concerning television rights.

Invited by the Association of Media Journalists (AJM) on Thursday, the channel's president, David Larramendy, confirmed that M6 would not share the broadcast with another audiovisual group.

"It has been a tremendous success in terms of audience, broadcast quality, match commentary, and the magazine (on the 2026 World Cup). So M6 will not share the 2030 World Cup matches, we will do it alone," he announced.

M6 is shouldering the losses from the 2026 World Cup.

This choice comes despite a financially deficit result for the channel after the 2026 World Cup.

M6 had spent around €120 million to acquire the free‑to‑air rights for 54 matches.

Despite the French team's run to the third‑place match, the operation would have resulted in losses ranging between €20 million and €30 million, according to the sports daily.

"We will see the exact figures at the end of the year, but the order of magnitude is fairly accurate. We have always presented this acquisition as an investment and we incurred fewer losses than we had anticipated. And if the advertising market had remained at the same level as in 2024, we would have been profitable," said David Larramendy.

While waiting for the 2030 World Cup, M6 could nevertheless join TF1 around another major competition.

Holder of the free‑to‑air rights for Euro 2028, the leading channel could share certain fixtures with its competitor.

"That interests us, but ask TF1. I am focusing on 2027 and two events for which we hold the rights: the Women's World Cup in Brazil and the Champions League final," the president added.