Netflix reportedly courting Andrés Cantor for 2027 Women’s World Cup
Netflix has dabbled in the waters of live sports broadcasts for a few years now, slowly expanding its reach from one-off events to a steady schedule of a few NFL games per year. Next summer, the streamer will play host to its biggest sporting event yet as the exclusive broadcaster of the 2027 Women's World Cup in the United States and Mexico.
According to a story by Alex Weprin at The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix is "circling" Andrés Cantor to provide Spanish-language coverage of the event. Cantor has most recently been the Spanish voice of soccer at Telemundo, a part of the NBCUniversal umbrella, but THR says his contract there is set to end in the coming weeks, making him a free agent.
Cantor, one of the most famous broadcasters in all of sports, is known for his iconic, elongated "¡goooooooooooooooooooool!" call, a sound that resonates with audiences even if they don't speak his language.
Weprin suggests that Cantor's deal with Netflix could be finalized quickly, as he is set to have a role in the World Cup draw, which the streamer will air in December. Securing Cantor's services would be a significant step for Netflix, bringing stability and credibility to its broadcast.
This is a substantial move for Netflix—a tournament that stretches over several weeks with multiple games each day presents a vastly different broadcasting challenge than a one-off NFL game on a holiday or MLB event. Having Cantor in the booth would be comparable to Netflix securing the services of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for its football broadcasts.
As THR notes, the deal between Cantor and Netflix might not be long-term, as the rights to future World Cups are still up for auction. Regardless of which network or streamer ultimately secures the rights, Cantor would likely prefer to be a free agent when the tournament returns.
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