France Télévisions won't renew Coupe de France deal: free-to-air coverage at risk

The Coupe de France could no longer be accessible for free from next season. France Télévisions has not renewed its agreement with the French Football Federation (FFF), whose contract expired at the end of June 2026, according to L’Équipe.

Seeking savings, the public broadcaster no longer wishes to dedicate the 8 million euros annually it had been paying to broadcast certain matches of the competition on free-to-air channels. France TV is now considering capping its offer at 4 million euros per season — a proposal that has not yet been formally submitted to the FFF, and which would in any case be unlikely to convince the governing body of French football.

As for paid rights, the situation is already settled. beIN Sports has secured the broadcast of the Coupe de France until 2030, by increasing its budget to 9 million euros per season.

The future of the competition on free-to-air channels therefore remains suspended on a negotiation that has, for now, not reached a conclusion. The oldest of French competitions, one of the last to benefit from a free-to-air broadcast window, could thus shift entirely behind a paid subscription if no agreement is reached with France Télévisions or another free broadcaster before the start of next season.