Amid the ticking clock, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shows faint rays of optimism for resolving broadcast rights negotiations of the forthcoming Women’s World Cup in 5 distinguished European nations.
While Infantino walked the inexperienced carpet at a gala occasion Wednesday night time for the revealing of the brand and branding for the 2026 World Cup at Los Angeles’ historic Griffith Observatory, the FIFA boss spoke briefly in regards to the pressing negotiations with broadcasters in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England for the rights to indicate the Women’s World Cup video games happening in two months in Australia and New Zealand.
“Some discussions have taken place, have started, I have to say, at a bit of a different level,” Infantino stated. “So it is moving.”
Infantino has decried the affords made just a few weeks earlier than, claiming they disrespect the ladies’s sport and FIFA’s ongoing makes an attempt to stage the monetary taking part in subject. FIFA has greater than tripled the prize cash awarded to the Women’s World Cup winners this 12 months from the 2019 stage, however Infantino stated a number of months in the past that some preliminary affords for the European TV rights had been round 1% of the equal males’s broadcast rights.
Infantino stated he’s nonetheless decided to get extra money from essentially the most distinguished European nations’ broadcasters as a result of he claims it would profit the whole ladies’s sport.
“I think it is important to understand where we are coming from here,” Infantino stated. “We are investing in women’s football. We are here now in North America, in the United States, where it’s the home country of the world champions, where women’s football has a completely different level not only of acceptance but also of respect. … We want that the game respected and that the good money is paid for that. Because whatever is paid is going back, not only 100% but 150%, in developing the women’s game.”
FIFA traveled to the Hollywood Hills for a flashy celebration of the branding for the 2026 occasion, which might be held throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada, together with the Los Angeles space’s SoFi Stadium. Dozens of soccer luminaries, together with Brazilian nice Ronaldo, gathered for the revealing.
The brand revealed by FIFA is straightforward, with two stacked on prime of a six and the World Cup trophy superimposed on them. The trophy’s picture is a primary for a World Cup brand, as is the usage of the match internet hosting 12 months as a part of the brand itself.
Each of the 16 host cities may have its personal branding with distinctive colours and magnificence, FIFA introduced.
Infantino’s quest is supported by Jill Ellis, the coach of the U.S. crew, which received the previous two Women’s World Cup championships.
While Ellis stated, she understands why negotiations have been complicated, the numbers underneath debate are generally discouraging.
“Gone are the days where it’s, you know, ‘Please, please respect us, please invest in us now,’” Ellis stated. “It’s like, why wouldn’t you invest in us? I think we’ve got to show value to ourselves as a global sport, so I understand that (the negotiations) have to be frustrating, given the ratings and viewership where they are. The financial thing is nowhere near that. … They’ll pay for the men’s games, right? I think we have an amazing sport. We had over a billion watches in ’19. The ratings are there. They’re in the stadiums now. It’s a little bit tough to swallow.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
