SES powers global distribution of FIFA World Cup coverage
June 11, 2026 13.01 Europe/London By Julian Clover


SES has highlighted its role and that of satellite in the distribution of the FIFA World Cup 2026, supporting broadcasters, airlines and football organisations with live coverage and related services across multiple continents.

The satellite operator said it is working with broadcasters and partners around the world to deliver live match coverage and supplementary programming from North America to audiences globally, combining satellite, fibre and IP delivery technologies.

In Germany, SES is supporting the German Football Federation’s DFB.TV service on the HD+ platform, providing fans with behind-the-scenes content, live updates from the national team’s base camp and additional tournament coverage alongside the matches themselves.

Viewers in Germany and Austria are also receiving extensive World Cup coverage via SES’s flagship 19.2 degrees East orbital position, where broadcasters including ARD, ZDF and ORF are carrying tournament coverage.

Across the Americas, SES is distributing live feeds from the International Broadcast Centre to rights holders throughout the region. The company said its hybrid distribution infrastructure, combining satellite, fibre and IP networks, is designed to provide the resilience and reliability required for large-scale live sporting events.

The company is also extending tournament coverage into the aviation sector through its inflight connectivity business. Following a recent agreement with Viva Airlines, SES is providing multi-orbit connectivity services that allow passengers to stream content and access online services while in flight.

As part of the initiative, complimentary Wi-Fi access will be offered on selected Viva Airlines flights operating on days when the Mexican national team is playing, enabling passengers to follow tournament coverage while travelling.

“Distribution of an event at this scale is one of the most complex undertakings in sports broadcasting as it combines multiple technical and operational challenges to ensure a successful transmission,” said Michele Gosetti, Vice President Media Sales Sports & Events at SES.

The company said the project demonstrates the continuing importance of satellite technology in the distribution of premium live sports, particularly when combined with fibre and IP networks to provide additional flexibility and resilience.

According to SES, its satellite infrastructure reaches almost 2.3 billion viewers worldwide and has played a role in the delivery of each of the ten most-watched sporting events in television history.