FIFA President Gianni Infantino was more optimistic about the negotiations with the main European television stations for the rights to broadcast the Women’s World Cup, a competition in which the Portuguese team will participate.
“Some discussions took place, or started, I should say, at a slightly different level,” said Infantino. “So things are ongoing,” added the official.
Infantino was speaking Wednesday night in Los Angeles at a ceremony to unveil the logo and brand for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, which will take place in 16 cities across the US, Mexico and Canada.
The FIFA leader said he was determined to get more money from the biggest broadcasters in the countries with the most competitive football leagues – Spain, France, England, Italy and Germany – because he says it would benefit all of women’s football.
“I think it’s important to understand where we come from here,” Infantino said.
“We are investing in women’s football. We are now here in North America, in the United States, the home country of world champions, where women’s football has a completely different level not only of acceptance, but also of respect”, underlined the leader.
“We just want the game to be respected and the right money paid for it, because what is paid is reinvested, not only 100%, but 150%, in the development of the women’s game”, guaranteed Infantino.
Earlier this month, the FIFA president had criticized the lack of interest from broadcasters in the main European countries, classifying the existing proposals as “disappointing”.
“It is our moral and legal obligation not to underestimate the Women’s World Cup”, said Infantino at the time, adding: “If the offers continue not to be fair, we will be forced not to broadcast the competition to the European countries of the ‘big five’ [as cinco principais ligas]”.
The FIFA president then recalled that the organization he leads increased the prizes and compensation of the competition to 143 million euros, tripling the amount allocated in 2019.
Infantino acknowledged that due to the time difference the transmissions in Europe of the games, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand, may not have the best ‘timing’, but considered that this “cannot serve as an excuse”.
“Broadcasting games at 9am or 10am in Europe is already reasonable”, he said, adding: “For broadcasters it may make less sense in economic terms, because the audiences are there”.
If broadcast agreements are not reached, FIFA is studying the possibility of broadcasting online the games of the competition, which will take place between 20 July and 20 August.
The Portuguese team, which makes its debut in the World Cups, will start by facing the Netherlands (July 23), then Vietnam (27) and, in the last game of group E, the United States (August 1).
Source: Futebol 365 by www.futebol365.pt.
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