• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

FIFA Reportedly Falls $100 Million Short of Women’s World Cup Rights Goal

  • FIFA hoped to make $300 million in global broadcast fees but will reportedly settle for closer to $200M.
  • European broadcasters initially low-balled FIFA, forcing president Gianni Infantino to threaten a World Cup blackout.
FIFA hoped to make $300M in global broadcast fees but will reportedly settle for closer to $200M.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

FIFA reportedly fell roughly $100 million short of its goal for Women’s World Cup broadcast rights fees ahead of the tournament’s kickoff in New Zealand on July 20.

The organization aimed to sign deals to value the WWC’s global broadcasting rights at $300 million, but it will instead settle for closer to $200 million, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. FIFA is on track to bring in about $50 million in new broadcast rights sales since last year’s men’s World Cup—about a third of the $150 million new fees it hoped to secure. 

This year’s Women’s World Cup is the first in which FIFA separately sold broadcast rights to the tournament, a break from the past in which the rights were essentially given for free to broadcasters who bought rights to the men’s tournament.

After the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France drew 1.1 billion viewers globally, FIFA pushed to sell broadcast rights for the women’s tournament and expanded the field to 32 teams. However, European broadcasters’ initial bids to broadcast this summer’s WWC were so small—some 1% of their payments to stream the men’s World Cup—that FIFA president Gianni Infantino threatened to blackout the games in England, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. 

FIFA reached WWC agreements with broadcasters in Europe’s “Big Five” countries last month to avoid the blackout, but WSJ reports that the combined deals were signed for roughly half of the $65 million that FIFA hoped to fetch. 

In the U.S., Fox has touted strong ad sales for its upcoming Women’s World Cup, selling out 90% of its inventory by June and 50% more than the 2019 tournament. 

One of the reasons European broadcasters cited in low-balling deals for the Women’s World Cup is the tournament’s location in Australia and New Zealand, some 9 to 10 hours ahead of time zones in Europe. Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks told Front Office Sports that the suboptimal time difference is why FIFA placed the USWNT in New Zealand instead of Australia. 

“I think that’s a big reason why FIFA realized that it’s probably better for the U.S. national team to be based in New Zealand,” Shanks said. “One of the reasons probably is that time zone’s much more friendly to the U.S. So we’ll have the early games while they’re in New Zealand starting at like 9:00 PM Eastern. And then it kinda gets a little bit all over the place; they’re either gonna be primetime games or fairly earlier in the morning.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Gareth Bale
exclusive

Gareth Bale Group Makes New Offer for Cardiff City 

Bale tells Front Office Sports his group has made another bid.

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.
Crystal Palace FC

Crystal Palace’s Europa League Spot in Limbo After Lyon Wins Appeal

The ruling on Olympique Lyonnais was overturned this week on appeal.
Jun 19, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor reacts after a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain at Rose Bowl Stadium.

John Textor Sues Investors After They Sue Him Over Failed $1B Soccer..

John Textor says he was duped, investors say he owes them millions.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive
July 8, 2025

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.