Apple close to finalizing deal with FIFA over TV rights for new tournament, NYT reports

:FIFA is close to an agreement with Apple to give the tech company worldwide television rights for a new, month-long World Cup-style tournament, the New York Times reported on Monday.

The tournament will be held in the United States for the first time next summer, the report said, adding that a deal could be announced as soon as this month.

The deal could be valued at around $1 billion — a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA had first estimated, the report said, citing three people familiar with the matter.

Soccer’s global governing body and Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comments.