President Florentino Pérez announces high-tech collaboration for club's 125th anniversary
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez confirmed on November 19, 2025, that the Spanish football club is collaborating with Apple on an immersive documentary project slated for release in 2026. Speaking during a press event at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Pérez outlined the initiative as a high-tech exploration of the club’s history, daily operations, and future ambitions, leveraging Apple's immersive technology ecosystem.
The announcement aligns with the club's 125th anniversary celebrations, though a specific release date within 2026 has not yet been disclosed. Pérez described the partnership's primary objective as an effort to "revolutionize how fans experience football history."
The confirmation follows a high-level meeting held at the Santiago Bernabéu on November 19 between Pérez and Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Services. Official channels from Real Madrid and Apple executive biographies confirm this meeting was pivotal in advancing the documentary project, which is part of broader discussions regarding content creation that began in October 2025.
In a statement released on the club's official website, Pérez elaborated on the project's scope: "This partnership with Apple will create an unprecedented immersive experience, blending our legacy with cutting-edge technology to bring fans closer to the heart of Real Madrid."
Eddy Cue also commented on the venture, stating, "We're excited to work with Real Madrid on innovative storytelling that leverages spatial computing and immersive video." Apple's newsroom updates describe the upcoming documentary as part of the company's expanding sports entertainment portfolio, emphasizing the delivery of "high-fidelity, interactive content."
While official budgets remain undisclosed, estimates suggest a significant financial commitment to the production. Reports indicate the production cost could range between €50 million and €70 million, a figure consistent with similar high-profile Apple projects such as their 2024 Formula 1 docuseries. Real Madrid’s 2025 annual report reveals an allocation of €120 million to digital and media initiatives for the fiscal year—a 20% increase from 2024—with funds specifically earmarked for technological collaborations.
The documentary is set to utilize Apple's spatial audio and immersive video technologies, including 8K VR/AR capabilities associated with the Apple Vision Pro. Planned features include:
The collaboration aims to capitalize on Apple’s extensive global reach. Apple's Q4 2025 earnings report cites over 2 billion active devices worldwide, providing a massive distribution platform via Apple TV+. Analysts project the documentary could attract between 100 million and 150 million global viewers in its first year. This projection is supported by viewership data from Apple's existing sports content, such as MLS streams, which averaged 1.2 million viewers per match in 2025.
Real Madrid brings its own substantial digital footprint to the partnership. Official club statistics updated on November 15, 2025, show a global following of 500 million across various platforms. The club's digital revenue has seen a 25% year-over-year increase, reaching €250 million, driven largely by content initiatives like the RM Play app.
The project is expected to have significant regional impacts as well. In North America, the documentary targets the growing Hispanic-American fanbase, estimated at 20 million supporters. In Asian markets like China and India, where Apple maintains a user base exceeding 300 million, the release may feature localized subtitles and cultural adaptations, potentially tied to Apple retail events in the region.
