Disney+ makes LaLiga central to French sports push
Disney+ has secured exclusive French rights to every LaLiga match from 2026-27 until 2029, strengthening ESPN’s European expansion while adding premium football to customers’ existing subscriptions.
Disney+ has agreed a three-season deal to show every LaLiga match live in France, adding 380 fixtures per campaign to its growing ESPN sports proposition from August 15.The entire competition will be available in French as part of existing Disney+ subscriptions, with ESPN producing live coverage, expert commentary and weekly highlights until the end of the 2028-29 season.Disney+ EMEA general manager Karl Holmes said: “We’re excited to bring LaLiga to all Disney+ France customers in a fresh new way. LaLiga has a strong connection with football fans in France, with many French players making their mark in Spain alongside iconic clubs and unforgettable rivalries, making it a great addition.”The agreement gives Disney+ a year-round subscription and retention asset built around Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, while strengthening its ability to compete with established sports broadcasters and streaming platforms in France.LaLiga president Javier Tebas said: “From the start of the new season, French fans will be able to enjoy all 380 LaLiga EA Sports matches live on Disney+, bringing them closer than ever to the competition’s biggest clubs, iconic rivalries and world-class talent.“This agreement is another important milestone in our global collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, building on our successful collaborations across the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and most recently the Nordics.”The deal extends ESPN’s wider relationship with LaLiga, which includes rights in the US until 2029 and exclusive coverage across Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland from the 2026-27 season.Disney also carries one live Saturday night match each week in the UK and Ireland, demonstrating its strategy of using LaLiga differently across markets according to local rights availability and subscriber objectives.Disney EMEA networks and sports executive Diego Londono said the agreement represented “another important milestone” in ESPN’s European expansion and would further strengthen Disney+’s live sports offering.The French service already includes L’Équipe programming alongside events covering biathlon, athletics, table tennis and motorsport, with LaLiga now providing its most substantial weekly football inventory.