The BBC and ITV are close to striking a deal to broadcast the Women’s World Cup this summer.
The tournament in Australia and New Zealand is just 49 days away and broadcast deals with multiple European countries are still not signed.
The UK is one of those, but FIFA have also not agreed terms with broadcasters in France, Germany, Italy or Spain either. There is also no deal in place with Japan.
For the first time, FIFA is selling the broadcasting rights for the Women’s World Cup separately to the men’s and they have been dismayed by lowball offers.
Italy’s offer is understood to be one per cent of what they paid to broadcast the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year.
Of the European nations, the UK is the closest to striking a deal that will see BBC and ITV share coverage of the tournament.
The women’s game is enjoying a boom in the UK off the back of the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 last summer.
The Government on Wednesday put out a statement urging for a swift resolution to be found given the tournament starts next month.
FIFA are taking a strong stance as they worry low offers could impact the game’s growth and future deals. Money from broadcasting deals will go back into the grassroots game and help fund the next generation of talent.
There is no deadline for a deal to be struck and talks could, in theory, take place right up until the start of the tournament.
If no agreement is found with certain countries, it raises the prospect of a TV blackout being in place.
People in those countries would still be able to watch the tournament via a streaming service on the FIFA website. Most recently that has been used to broadcast the Under-20 World Cup this month.
