ITV Sport has secured the rights to broadcast live coverage of England women’s tournament qualifiers and international friendlies for the next four years.
The Lionesses’ efforts to reach both World Cup and European Championships, as well as international friendlies, will be broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV and ITV4, in a deal with the Football Association (FA) which will run until the 2024/25 season.
Live coverage kicks off with England’s opening FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on Friday, 17 September.
ITV has confirmed that Laura Woods will present the channel’s England women’s coverage and it will also feature familiar figures from ITV’s football broadcasts, including Ian Wright and Eni Aluko, as well as commentary from Seb Hutchinson and co-commentary from Emma Hayes.
The new deal means ITV is now the home of both the England men and women senior teams, with ITV showing the men’s senior side’s World Cup, European Championship and internationals, home and away, until 2022.
It also marks ITV’s first serious foray into covering live women’s football, having only previous covered the Women’s FA Cup Final back in 2009.
Commenting on the new deal, Niall Sloane, ITV’s Director of Sport, said:
“This is an exciting moment to announce this deal with England Women about to start their qualifying campaign for the 2023 World Cup, and at the outset of a season which will build towards England hosting the Women’s Euros next summer.
“We’re delighted to be able to bring viewers the very best coverage of the action and the stories, live and free to air, over the coming years.”
On joining ITV to cover the England women’s team, Laura Woods, who is a regular face and voice on DAZN, Sky Sports and talkSPORT, said:
“This is a real honour for me. It’s such an exciting time for women’s football and I’ve loved watching the game go from strength to strength.
“I can’t wait to join the team at ITV, and rub shoulders with the best in the business, presenting some really important games for the Lionesses.”
ITV takes over the rights to show England women’s internationals from the BBC, which had been the main broadcaster of these matches over the past decade.
The corporation has exclusive terrestrial rights for next summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros in England, and also screens regular live coverage of FA Women’s Super League matches and the Women’s FA Cup.
Kathryn Swarbrick, the FA’s Commercial and Marketing Director, said:
“We’re delighted to announce this new agreement which makes ITV the home of England Football. This partnership is critical for The FA not only to drive the reach and profile of the Women’s senior team, but also to drive girls participation.
“We know when girls see elite women’s football in action it inspires them, and makes them believe football is a sport for them. “With a successful launch of the Barclays FA WSL season over the weekend and this new game changing partnership, it is a truly exciting time for Women’s football in England.”
As well as live England men’s and women’s internationals, ITV’s football portfolio also includes live coverage of the FA Cup, which returns to the network this season, and next winter’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
For a full list of all forthcoming major football matches on the box, visit SOTB’s dedicated football TV listings page.
