BBC Secures Rights To FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019

The BBC has secured the broadcast rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 - broadcasting extensive coverage of every game across TV, radio and online.

The announcement follows on from the success of the BBC's coverage of the 2015 tournament in Canada, which saw England's Lionesses reach the semi-finals. With an impressive peak TV audience of 2.4 million late into the night for England's game against Japan, the tournament reached more than 12 million people on TV alone, unprecedented figures for women's football in the UK.

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 adds to the BBC's commitment to women's football, which includes regular programming across our TV, radio and digital services.

This year BBC audiences will have access to continued women's football TV coverage with the Women's Football Show on BBC Two bringing highlights of the all new WSL Spring Series from April and the WSL season from September.

On BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra there will be live commentaries from the WSL Spring Series and the new WSL season while the Women's FA Cup Final will also be live across BBC TV and radio in May in a deal that runs up to and including 2021.
Fans will also be able to watch live selected qualification matches later in the year, following the home nations in their quest to appear on the world stage at France 2019.

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater said: "We're delighted that the BBC will bring the biggest tournament in women's football to the widest possible audience. Women's football has grown significantly over the last few years and we are proud of the contribution we have made. France 2019 promises to be another fantastic showcase for the sport."

FIFA's Secretary General Fatma Samoura added: "The seventh edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 reached record-breaking numbers of TV viewers and social media clicks, underlining global interest in the world's biggest single-sport event for women. As excitement grows around the eighth edition of the competition, we are delighted to work with the BBC to broadcast the ultimate event in women's football to even greater audiences in the UK via the BBC's TV, radio and digital platforms."

(MH)