FIFA President Gianni Infantino has warned England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain that the Women’s World Cup may not be broadcasted in their countries due to insufficient payment from broadcasters.
Infantino has criticized broadcasters for offering too little to screen the tournament, and is threatening not to broadcast the event in the “Big 5” European countries if offers do not improve.
Insufficient Payment from Broadcasters
The 2019-22 commercial cycle has generated $1.06 billion in TV revenue for FIFA, with Europe being the most profitable broadcast market. The majority of this revenue is linked to the men’s World Cup held in Qatar.
FIFA has a standby broadcasting option with its own online streaming platform FIFA+. The Women’s World Cup has standalone broadcast and sponsor deals, rather than being bundled with the men’s tournament, as part of Infantino’s pledge to develop the women’s game.
Infantino has previously criticized the undervaluing of women’s soccer, and suggested that public broadcasters have a duty to promote and invest in women’s sport. European public service broadcasters, including Britain’s BBC, have been criticized by Infantino for undervaluing women’s soccer, though the BBC declined to comment on the matter.
UEFA’s Strategy
While FIFA is playing hardball with broadcasters, UEFA is giving away some of its Women’s Champions League games for free on YouTube to build an audience.
The European Broadcasting Union has already announced a collective 28-nation deal with FIFA to cover most or all of the 64-game Women’s World Cup on free-to-air channels.
FIFA’s Policy
FIFA’s policy of separate deals for the women’s tournament previously made headlines when soccer and public officials in Australia and New Zealand objected to planned sponsorship by the Saudi Arabia tourism board.
However, FIFA continues to support women’s soccer by securing separate broadcast and sponsor deals for the women’s World Cup.
Infantino’s Warning
Infantino has now issued a warning to European broadcasters that the Women’s World Cup may not be shown in the “Big 5” European countries.
He has urged broadcasters to invest more in the promotion and development of women’s soccer, especially in Europe, which has been criticized for undervaluing women’s soccer.
FIFA+ Streaming Platform
FIFA+ could be a viable option for fans in Europe if broadcasters do not come to an agreement with FIFA. FIFA+ is a dedicated online streaming platform for football fans to access live and on-demand games, highlights, and interviews.
FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino has warned European broadcasters that the Women’s World Cup may not be broadcasted in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain due to insufficient payment from broadcasters. Infantino has urged broadcasters to invest more in the promotion and development of women’s soccer, especially in Europe, which has been criticized for undervaluing women’s soccer.
FIFA has a standby broadcasting option with its own online streaming platform FIFA+. With the Women’s World Cup standalone broadcast and sponsor deals, Infantino has pledged to develop the women’s game.
