TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup: What Really Happened with the Rights

The football calendar is basically a runaway train at this point. Just when you think the players might get a breather, FIFA goes and expands the FIFA Club World Cup into a 32-team summer marathon. Honestly, for the longest time, nobody even knew how they were going to watch it. One minute it was all about Apple TV, then suddenly it wasn't. Now, we've finally got a clear picture of how TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup coverage fits into the puzzle.

It's been a messy road to get here.

Broadcasting rights for this tournament have been a bit of a headache for Gianni Infantino and the folks at FIFA. They wanted billions. The networks? Not so much. Eventually, a massive global deal with DAZN changed everything, but for fans in the UK and the US, the "where to watch" question has some specific layers you might've missed.

The TNT Sports and DAZN Partnership Explained

Basically, DAZN is the big boss for this tournament. They hold the global keys. However, they realized pretty quickly that even a global streaming giant needs local boots on the ground to make a dent in the ratings. That’s where the TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup tie-up comes in, particularly for the US audience.

In March 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery (the parent company of TNT Sports) signed a multi-faceted deal to bring 24 of the tournament's 63 matches to linear TV.
We’re talking TNT, TBS, and truTV.

If you’ve followed the "streaming-only" wars lately, you know how much fans hate having to buy yet another subscription just for one tournament. This deal kinda fixes that for American fans. While every single game is technically "free" on the DAZN app, having those 24 matches—including the final at MetLife Stadium—on traditional cable channels makes it way more accessible for the average person.

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What about the UK?

This is where it gets a little different. In the UK, TNT Sports has a massive footprint with the Champions League, but for the Club World Cup, the primary terrestrial partner ended up being "5" (formerly Channel 5).

However, TNT Sports hasn't totally sat this one out. For commercial customers—basically, if you’re heading to the pub to watch Manchester City or Chelsea—the tournament is being funneled through the TNT Sports Box Office infrastructure. Specifically, channel 490 on the commercial boxes. It’s a bit of a technical workaround to ensure that business owners who already pay for TNT Sports subscriptions can show the games without needing to install new DAZN-ready hardware in every bar.

Why This Tournament Is Such a Big Deal (and a Big Risk)

Let’s be real: players are tired.
The expanded format means teams like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are flying to the US in June and July.

There’s been a lot of pushback. Organizations like FIFPRO (the players' union) have basically said, "enough is enough." They’re worried about burnout. From a broadcasting perspective, though, TNT Sports is betting that the star power will outweigh the controversy.

Think about the groups:

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• Group A: Al Ahly, FC Porto, Inter Miami, and Palmeiras. (Yes, Messi is in this).
• Group G: Manchester City, Juventus, Al Ain, and Wydad AC.

When you have Pep Guardiola’s City facing off against Juventus in a competitive summer tournament, people are going to tune in. The TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup coverage is leaning heavily into this "clash of titans" narrative. They aren't just showing the games; they're producing English-language studio shows and using brands like Bleacher Report and B/R Football to flood social media with highlights.

The Production Machine Behind the Scenes

DAZN and TNT Sports aren't just sharing a feed and calling it a day. They’re actually collaborating on the production. This is pretty rare in the sports world. Usually, one network does the work and the other just buys the "clean" feed.

Here, they are sharing crews.
They’re using the TNT technical infrastructure in Atlanta to produce over 60 English-language broadcasts.

They’ve also hired 32 "embedded reporters"—one for every single club. If you’re a Chelsea fan, you aren't just getting a generic commentator; you’re getting someone who has been living and breathing the Chelsea camp throughout the tournament. This level of depth is what they’re hoping will make the 2025/2026 season kickoff feel special rather than just another chore for the players.

How to Actually Watch the Matches

If you're trying to figure out your schedule, here’s the breakdown of how the TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup content is actually being distributed:

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1. The DAZN App: Every single one of the 63 matches is available here for free. You just need an account.
2. TNT, TBS, and truTV (US Only): These channels are airing 24 select games, including the biggest group stage matches and the final.
3. Channel 5 (UK Only): They have 23 matches free-to-air, including the final and several knockout rounds.
4. TNT Sports Business (UK): Pubs and clubs can use the Box Office channel 490 to show the DAZN feed.

The tournament kicks off on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It ends a month later on July 13 in New Jersey. It’s a long slog.

Actionable Steps for Fans

If you want to make sure you don't miss a single minute of the TNT Sports FIFA Club World Cup action, you need to do a couple of things right now. First, download the DAZN app and register for a free account; don't wait until five minutes before kickoff when the servers are screaming.

Second, if you’re in the US, check your cable or YouTube TV lineup to see if you have TNT and truTV, as many of the knockout games will live there. For those in the UK wanting to watch at a local spot, call ahead to make sure they’ve activated the "TNT Sports Business" feed for the Club World Cup, as some smaller venues might not realize it's an opt-in service on channel 490.

Finally, keep an eye on Bleacher Report's social channels. Because of the partnership with WBD, they'll have the fastest legal highlights available, which is perfect if you can't stay up for those late-night East Coast kickoffs.