TV rights for new Women’s Champions Cup remain unsold in blow to Fifa | OneFootball

Fifa has been unable to sell TV rights to its first global women’s club competition, the Champions Cup to take place in London from 28 January. The Champions League holders, Arsenal, will represent Europe in the competition that features the winners of the continental championships.

The situation has echoes of Fifa’s struggle to sell broadcast rights to the men’s Club World Cup this year, bought by the global streaming platform Dazn, which sold a $1bn (£750m) stake to the Saudi Arabian vehicle SURJ Sports Investment.

A last-minute deal could also be done for the Champions Cup, although given only four matches – two semi-finals, the final and a third‑place game – are being played from 28 January to 1 February it is unclear whether broadcasters regard it as a valuable property. Sources with knowledge of the process said Fifa had not run a formal tender but had targeted key broadcasters in individual markets.

The Women’s Super League rights holders, Sky Sports and BBC Sport, are understood to have been offered the tournament, but have shown little interest despite the involvement of Arsenal and the fact that all matches will take place in London. Fifa has yet to reveal the venues, which may have an effect on ticket sales.

Arsenal, Corinthians (the Copa Libertadores holders) and Gotham FC (the Concacaf champions) have qualified for the semi-finals. The Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda beat Auckland United in October to progress to the playoff this month against the Moroccan side AS Far for the right to face Arsenal. The second semi-final will be between Gotham and Corinthians.

The Fifa Council approved the creation of the Champions Cup in March after postponing the launch of a 16-team women’s Club World Cup until 2028. The Club World Cup will take place every four years, with the Champions Cup being held in the other three years of each cycle.

Staging the Champions Cup has been fraught with difficulties, partly because of the congested calendar. Gotham wanted to host the finals in New York, a move welcome by Fifa, but Arsenal are understood to have objected to a US trip in the middle of their season. Arsenal are due to face Chelsea in the WSL on 24 January.

Fifa declined to comment, but sources indicated the media rights sales process remained in progress.

Header image: [Photograph: Rodrigo Antunes/Reuters]