# Netflix pays £14 million for The Rest Is Football World Cup show

**Published:** 2026-07-09T21:43:24.622Z  
**Topic:** Netflix  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/3011df41-7a7a-444a-8b13-06da2b1b6501

Netflix spent £14 million on a 40‑episode daily World Cup series, launching a Times Square set and hiring 150 staff – see why the investment matters for sports

The Rest Is Football, Netflix’s daily World Cup series, cost the streamer £14 million for a 40‑episode run that will air through July 19, the tournament final, positioning Netflix as a regular sports‑content player despite lacking live‑match rights [3].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Investment | £14 million |
| Episodes | 40 daily episodes |
| Run dates | Through July 19 (World Cup final) |
| Production staff | 150 people |

## Production scale and format  
Netflix filmed the show in a Times Square loft overlooking an Old Navy and Popeyes, turning the UK‑based podcast into a video‑first “show.” The series drops each morning at 6 a.m. London time and is available on‑demand thereafter, with audio versions released three times a week [3]. A staff of 150 produces the content, blending pre‑produced segments from team training sites with on‑the‑ground reporter hits, all without any live match footage or highlights due to rights restrictions [3].

## Market implications  
The £14 million outlay signals Netflix’s intent to embed itself in the global sports conversation, using cost‑effective podcast‑to‑video conversions as a foothold. Goalhanger Podcasts, the production house behind the series, was recently ranked Britain’s fastest‑growing company and has attracted investment from The Chernin Group to expand its U.S. reach [3]. By delivering daily analysis and personality‑driven content, Netflix challenges traditional broadcasters that rely on live‑rights moats, a trend highlighted by the show’s success during the 2024 Euros where video viewership surpassed audio [3].

## Competitive context  
Other digital platforms are also pursuing sports‑adjacent content: YouTube and TikTok secured FIFA deals for live clips, Apple revived its soccer podcast with high‑profile hosts, and Fox continues to air live games. Netflix’s approach—high‑budget, daily video series without live rights—offers a distinct, lower‑cost alternative that could influence how streaming services allocate sports budgets moving forward [3].

## What to watch
- **July 19** – the series finale coincides with the World Cup final, providing a final data point on audience engagement.
- **Future season plans** – whether Netflix will renew the format for the 2027 Women’s World Cup or other tournaments.
- **Competitor responses** – potential increases in sports‑focused podcasts or video series from rivals like Apple or YouTube.

Netflix’s £14 million investment underscores a shift toward personality‑driven sports content that sidesteps traditional broadcast rights, raising questions about how streaming services will balance cost, rights, and fan engagement in future tournaments.

## Sources
1. Esquire — [The Luxury Watches on Netflix's 'The Rest Is Football' Deserve Their Own Highlights Reel](https://www.esquire.com/uk/watches/g71880965/the-rest-is-football-watches/)
2. Goal — [How to Watch The Rest Is Football on Netflix: Release date, show times and World Cup schedule | Goal.com](https://www.goal.com/en/news/how-to-watch-the-rest-is-football-netflix-schedule/blt4a73c63961a4b755)
3. Sportico — [Netflix's World Cup Streams: How 'The Rest Is Football' Landed in U.S.](https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2026/world-cup-streaming-recap-show-netflix-podcast-lineker-1234909981/)
4. Wikipedia — [The Rest Is Football - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rest_Is_Football)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Netflix pays £14 million for The Rest Is Football World Cup show", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/3011df41-7a7a-444a-8b13-06da2b1b6501