Disney has acquired the exclusive rights to Spanish soccer tournament Copa del Rey in the United States for its ESPN+ premium streamer. The multi-year agreement with the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) took place in time for the second round of the 2019/20 tournament which took place this past weekend.
It had been reported by World Soccer Talk that ESPN picked up the rights following the decision of BeIN Sports not to renew its existing deal in the country. In total, ESPN+ will feature up to 65 matches per season, including the competition’s final.
“Copa del Rey is among the most storied and exciting soccer tournaments in the world, featuring electrifying players and teams. This agreement is a further reflection of ESPN+’s position as a must-have home for world-class soccer in the US and we are thrilled to offer coverage to fans in both English and Spanish,” declared Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and General Manager of ESPN.
ESPN+ is being positioned as a must-have platform for US soccer fans, with the service also being the house of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, English soccer’s top two club cup competitions, as well as several top-flight soccer leagues, including the domestic Major League Soccer (MLS), Italy’s Serie A, and the Dutch Eredivisie.
The platform has also announced plans to expand the number of live sports events it makes available each month with Spanish-language commentary. The focus will initially be on the service’s soccer portfolio, but also include Top Rank boxing and Major League Baseball (MLB). ESPN+ will also now deliver all of its live Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) coverage in both English and Spanish.
This agreement is a further reflection of ESPN+’s position as a must-have home for world-class soccer in the US” Russell Wolff Executive Vice President and General Manager of ESPN
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