Women’s World Cup Could Be Worth $300M In Media Rights

The 2023 women’s World Cup is the most recent women’s sports property set to cash in big on its next media rights deal.

The tournament could be worth more than $300 million, according to The Wall Street Journal — which would make it the most expensive women’s tournament in the world.

The revelation came after FIFA — inspired by the 1.12 billion viewers for the 2019 edition across all platforms — began looking into the value of the women’s World Cup as a separate property from its men’s counterpart.

Previously, there were no available estimates for the package.

Similar Situation

The NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament has faced a similar conundrum to the women’s World Cup, as its current media rights deal packages it with 28 other NCAA sports. 

A media rights consultant estimated that the tournament could be worth between $81 million and $112 million annually in 2025, when the next deal rolls around. The current deal averages $34 million a year for all sports combined.

Since then, new NCAA President Charlie Baker previously told Front Office Sports the NCAA is conducting a market analysis, with the help of Endeavor, to determine the most lucrative way to sell the package. 

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told FOS he believes there should be a thorough exploration of selling the women’s tournament on its own.