Champions League free on Facebook

Social network Facebook will broadcast some Champions League matches in Spanish-speaking Latin America on a free-to-air basis over the next three seasons, UEFA said on Wednesday.

The deal, which runs from this season until 2021, gives Facebook exclusive free-toair rights to 32 live matches each season, including the Champions League final and UEFA Super Cup, European soccer’s governing body announced.

Wednesday highlights and magazine programs will also be shared each match week on Facebook’s dedicated page, UEFA said.

The first game to be broadcast online was Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein described it as a “highly innovative and accessible manner” to broadcast games to the region.

Nearly all of Latin America’s top players are based with European clubs and many take part in the Champions League each year.

The decision comes a day after Facebook announced a similar deal with La Liga in Spain.

That deal will allow viewers in eight nations in south Asia to watch every game over the next three seasons for free on the social network.

It also comes as uncertainty surrounds the broadcast of Champions League matches in Brazil, South America’s biggest television market.