The Ligue 1+ channel is preparing for a particularly active summer despite missing out on the rights for the 2026 World Cup. Excluded from the race for the 2026 World Cup rights, which were ultimately awarded to beIN Sports, the channel still intends to maintain a continuous presence in the football market during the summer, between May 24 and August 15.
In this regard, the platform aims to fill the void of the off-season by increasing content and broadcasts, with a focus on pre-season matches, as revealed by RMC. “Discussions are currently underway with the clubs in our league,” said Jérôme Cazadieu, editorial director of the channel, on the show “After FC.”
“Not all matches have been scheduled, nor the dates, nor the venues, but I think we will have between 20 and 25 matches between mid-July and mid-August, with high-level fixtures,” he added. The schedule is still being finalized and may change depending on the final standings of Ligue 1 and the clubs’ preparation choices.
European competitions are also being considered by Ligue 1+, with the channel ensuring the production of matches played in France. For matches abroad, the channel will rely on signals provided by the host clubs.
Finally, the platform is not ruling out the possibility of entering the preliminary rounds of European competitions involving French clubs, separate from the rights held by Canal+ and accessible through specific acquisitions.
