AN ONLINE streaming company has won exclusive rights to show Wales football matches. 

The service is owned by Swedish-based company NENT Group has the rights to show Wales matches from 2024 in a major shake-up of live international football.

As part of a four-year partnership with UEFA, Viaplay will show European qualifiers for Euro 2028 and World Cup 2026 from 2024, along with UEFA Nations League and friendly matches. The move means Wales matches will no longer be shown on Sky Sports or S4C.

Rhyl Journal: Wales' Ben Davies (second right) celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game during the FIFA World Cup Qualifying match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday November 13, 2021.

Viaplay has said it plans to offer Welsh language coverage, and has also said that some matches will be shown free-to-air. It's also not clear how much it will cost fans.

In the US, the service costs around $4.99 per month, which translates to around £4 a month in the UK at current exchange rates. Further details are expected when the service launches in the UK later this year.

The agreement comes through UEFA's centralised National Association media rights sales process, and means the platform will also be the home of Scotland and Northern Ireland games. England matches, however, are not part of the agreement.

 

Anders Jensen, NENT group president and CEO, added: “This is Viaplay’s biggest UK sports milestone so far. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have exciting young teams that millions of fans will be able to follow exclusively on our world-class platform.

"These matches are in good hands – we work closely with UEFA in the Nordic and Baltic regions, and know how much national sides mean to supporters. Viaplay’s multi-territory partnerships with rights holders will be a key advantage as we challenge further in the UK sports market.

"The timing is also advantageous, with these rights coming on stream in 2024, which allows us time to build our UK brand and to innovate the Viaplay viewing experience even further.”

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director at UEFA, added: “With Viaplay’s long-lasting football track record, we are confident that football fans across the UK will be part of the journey of each of the Home Nations and will be offered excellent coverage of the UEFA National Team Football competitions between 2024 and 2028, whichever screen they choose to use.”