Disney+ has secured the rights to stream the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe starting next season, making a big move into live sports. The matches will be available to subscribers at no extra cost, included in the regular monthly plan. This marks the first time the tournament will be broadcast across Europe through a single platform, instead of the previous model where rights were sold country-by-country.
The deal will run until the 2029/30 season and begins just as UEFA introduces a new 18-team league phase. All 75 matches from the group stage to the final will be available to stream on Disney+, with the 2026 final set to take place at Ullevaal Stadion in Norway.
This broadcasting change is expected to offer greater visibility to the women’s game. Previously, depending on the country, some fans struggled to access matches. Now, fans across Europe will have a consistent way to follow the tournament.
Karl Holmes, General Manager at Disney+ EMEA, said, “The UEFA Women’s Champions League is the very best in football performance, dedication, and passion. Bringing this incredible tournament to Disney+ customers and audiences speaks to our commitment to delivering a huge range of bold and dynamic entertainment.”
ESPN will produce all the matches, offering commentary in multiple languages to cater to a wider European audience. Pre-game and post-game shows will also be available, which could enhance the viewing experience. This aligns with Disney’s earlier move to offer the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League on Disney+ in Denmark and Sweden.
While this expansion into sports is exciting for Disney+, the streaming service still has challenges. Competing with platforms like Amazon Prime Video and DAZN, which have also invested heavily in live sports, could be tough. Moreover, there is the question of whether sports content will attract enough new subscribers to offset rising production and rights costs.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League has gained significant popularity in recent years. Attendance has gone up, more people are watching globally, and the level of play has improved. This new deal is a signal that women’s football is becoming a key part of the broader football ecosystem.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, Co-Managing Director at UC3, said, “The UEFA Women’s Champions League has seen exceptional growth in recent years, with record-breaking attendance, rising standards, and increasing global interest. These new broadcast deals not only reflect this but are important milestones in the continued development of women’s football in Europe, underscoring its growing importance and appeal to fans worldwide. We look forward to working with Disney+ and the Free-To-Air broadcast partners to continue to grow the women’s game in Europe.”
For subscribers, this means more live content included without extra cost. However, some viewers may question whether a general entertainment platform like Disney+ is the right home for high-level sports, especially when the brand is often associated with family-friendly films and series.
Disney+ currently offers multiple subscription plans, including one with ads and two without ads. The addition of major sports events like the UEFA Women’s Champions League could make its packages more attractive to a broader audience.
This deal between Disney+ and UEFA marks a major step in bringing more visibility to women’s football across Europe. It could also change how fans consume sports, as streaming platforms become central hubs for live sports content. Whether this strategy helps Disney+ grow its user base remains to be seen, but it certainly reflects the rising value and popularity of the women’s game.