French, Spanish Broadcasters Challenge FIFA Over ExpressVPN World Cup Sponsorship

Broadcasters in France and Spain have formally complained to FIFA over its decision to make ExpressVPN an official sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the partnership could undermine efforts to combat illegal sports streaming.

ExpressVPN, a virtual private network (VPN) service that enhances users' online privacy and security, was unveiled as an official tournament partner ahead of the World Cup and has since been prominently featured on advertising boards during matches.

La Liga president Javier Tebas, a long-time advocate against online piracy, criticised the sponsorship, arguing that VPN services can make it more difficult for authorities to identify individuals accessing pirated sports broadcasts.

Tebas, who has previously estimated that illegal streaming costs La Liga clubs up to €700 million in lost revenue each year, raised his concerns in a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

According to the letter, FIFA's partnership with a VPN provider sends the wrong signal to the football industry and could weaken ongoing efforts to protect broadcasting rights and tackle digital piracy.

The Association for the Protection of Sports Programs (APPS), which represents leading French broadcasters including Canal+ and beIN Sports France, also expressed "deep concern" over the agreement. The group argued that FIFA's commercial partnerships should reinforce the integrity, sustainability and value of football's broadcasting rights rather than create uncertainty around anti-piracy initiatives.

The complaints come after a French court ordered five VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, to block access to more than 200 domain names linked to illegal sports streaming websites last year.

In response, FIFA said it conducted comprehensive due diligence before approving the sponsorship and carefully assessed its potential impact on broadcasters and other stakeholders.

The governing body added that safeguards had been put in place to ensure the partnership does not undermine the interests of rights holders.

ExpressVPN has also maintained that its service is intended to protect users' online privacy and security, stressing in its customer guidance that VPNs should not be used for illegal activities or to circumvent the law.