FIFA make punishment decision after Fox violate rules of $485m World Cup TV deal

FIFA’s U.S. World Cup TV deal with Fox, valued at $485 million, frames the 2026 tournament as extraordinarily commercial. The event expands to 48 teams, up from 32 since 1998, and uses hydration breaks that effectively split games into four segments for more advertising, underpinning FIFA’s forecast of about $13 billion in revenue. Opening night drew almost 25 million viewers as Mauricio Pochettino’s side won 4-1. The Guardian reports Fox cut away for ads during Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa and returned 10 seconds after play resumed, violating the rules that require a restart. FIFA reportedly will not punish Fox, attributing the incident to a misreading of when the hydration break began.