Netflix Hires Longtime Soccer Voice Andrés Cantor for 2027 Women’s World Cup

Netflix has landed one of the most recognizable announcers in Spanish-language sports, signing Emmy Award winner Andrés Cantor as the first play-by-play voice for its coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.

The move marks the end of Cantor’s long tenure at Telemundo, where his trademark stretched-out goal call became a fixture of the network’s soccer broadcasts. His exit follows the conclusion of his contract with the network, capping a 26-year run there that came after 13 years as a sports anchor at Univision.

Netflix acquired exclusive U.S. rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups in 2024, and Cantor is the first on-air hire the streamer has announced for the tournament. Notably, the company named a Spanish-language broadcaster before any English-language talent — a signal of the priority Netflix is placing on Spanish-speaking audiences as it builds its first roster for the event.

Cantor’s debut in the role comes sooner than the tournament itself: he will be part of the stream’s coverage of the Final Draw on December 11, which will stream live in the United States and Canada from the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro.

A Four-Decade Resumé

Cantor has been a staple of U.S. soccer broadcasting since the late 1980s. He has called every men’s FIFA World Cup since 1986 and four Women’s World Cups, including the inaugural 1991 edition. His résumé also spans the Summer Olympics, Copa América, the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League, and Major League Soccer.

Most recently, he anchored Telemundo’s onsite coverage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the last of three straight women’s tournaments he covered for the network. His departure comes on the heels of his work on Telemundo’s men’s World Cup coverage this summer, which the network described as record-setting.

The signing underscores Netflix’s broader push into live sports, with Cantor saying he is eager to bring the tournament to fans across the United States and Canada as the streamer expands its live-event footprint.

Competitive context

The hire lands in a market where live sports rights remain a key battleground for media companies. Rival broadcaster Fox Corporation — whose stock closed at $64.45, down 0.82% from the prior close of $64.98, valuing the company at roughly $26.8 billion — continues to compete for audiences across its sports and entertainment portfolio, highlighting the stakes as streamers and traditional broadcasters vie for marquee talent and event rights.

What to watch

• The Final Draw on December 11, Cantor’s first assignment under the Netflix banner
• Further announcements of Netflix’s broadcast team, including English-language talent
• Details on Netflix’s production plans and advertising approach ahead of the 2027 tournament

Source: original release