In a significant move that underscores the growing global interest in women’s football, ESPN has renewed its media rights deal for the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro across Spanish-speaking Latin America. This agreement is part of a larger, multi-year arrangement between the Disney-owned sports broadcaster and UEFA — solidifying ESPN’s positioning as a long-term strategic partner for European national team tournaments across the region.
Expanded Coverage Through 2028
The agreement grants ESPN coverage not only of the Women’s Euro 2025, to be hosted in Switzerland between July 2 and 27, but also a slate of elite youth and futsal tournaments through 2028. These include:
- UEFA Under-21 Championships
- Men’s and Women’s U19 & U17 Euros
- UEFA Futsal European Championships
These events will be broadcast across Mexico, Central America, and South America, utilizing a combination of ESPN’s regional linear channels and Disney+ streaming — a strategic hybrid approach that expands accessibility to both traditional TV audiences and younger digital-native fans.
A Region on the Rise in Women’s Football
This move is a strong signal of intent in Latin America — a region increasingly aligned with the global rise of women’s football. With Brazil set to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Latin American market is entering a golden era for the women’s game.
ESPN’s renewed investment aligns with this trajectory, reinforcing its coverage of other women’s sports such as:
- Liga MX Femenil
- NWSL
- WNBA
- Golf and cycling competitions
Strategic Implications: Why This Deal Matters
For UEFA:
- This deal deepens UEFA’s global distribution footprint, particularly in a strategically vital emerging market.
- It ensures that youth development tournaments receive exposure in a football-obsessed region, aiding long-term talent pipelines and brand equity.
For ESPN/Disney+:
- It provides exclusive content to fuel Disney+ subscriptions and regional audience retention.
- It anchors ESPN’s reputation as the home of elite women’s sport, enhancing advertiser appeal and cross-platform monetization.
For Brands and Sponsors:
- The Women’s Euro coverage now spans from in-flight platforms (via Sport24), to OTT (Disney+), to regional broadcast — a multi-environment sponsorship opportunity.
- Brands with footprints in both North and South America can build consistent campaigns across events leading up to the 2027 World Cup.
How Brands Can Win?
At 365247 Consultancy, we believe the intersection of media rights, women’s sport, and cross-platform strategy is one of the most undervalued growth channels for sport and entertainment brands today.
Brands should consider:
Long-tail visibility: With tournaments running annually through 2028, this is not just one event — it’s a full pipeline of exposure.
Cultural alignment: Women’s football is reshaping gender narratives in Latin America. Strategic partnerships here go beyond sport.
Disney’s ecosystem: From linear to OTT to consumer products, this is a chance to activate across multiple Disney-owned environments.
Let’s Build Your Strategy
Whether you’re a broadcaster, sponsor, federation, or tech platform — sports offers one of the most valuable white-space opportunities of this decade.
