Women’s World Cup still without broadcaster 60 days before competition

<strong> Discussions between FIFA and several European television channels remain at a standstill two months before the event, scheduled from July 20 to August 20 in Oceania. </strong>

The conflict is dragging on and evolving into a nerve-wracking struggle. Sixty days out from the Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, negotiations between the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the television networks of numerous European nations are still at a stalemate. The circumstance is unusual. Currently, no financial arrangement has been achieved for France since everyone has maintained their positions. Le Monde was informed that the channels’ requests range between €2 million and €4 million, while FIFA is still aiming for between €8 million and €10 million.

In early May on instagram, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino deemed the offers “very disappointing and simply not acceptable,” calling it “a slap in the face of all the great FIFA Women’s World Cup players and indeed of all women worldwide,” despite the fact that a deal has already been signed in 155 countries. The body argues that all the money from broadcasting rights will go toward developing women’s soccer. The pressure has increased since the Italian-Swiss leader evoked the threat that the Big Five (UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and France) would not be able to broadcast the game, although a consensus is still hoped for before the beginning of July at the latest. After that, it will be too late for the channels, which must make their own arrangements.

Potential broadcasters criticize the “overvaluation” of the rights of a 2023 edition that is much less favorable than the previous one, which took place in France in 2019. Later in the calendar, the competition falls in a slack period in terms of advertising. Added to this is the time difference (eight hours with Australia and 10 hours with New Zealand), which hinders European channels, as Les Bleues’ games take place at 10 am or noon, Paris time. With lower ratings, advertising will be much less profitable.