England Women’s FIFA WC Games Broadcast on BBC

May 24, 2011

England Women’s national soccer team matches during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in June will be broadcast live on TV and online by the BBC after the broadcaster reached a deal with the FA.

England’s three group matches against Mexico, New Zealand and Japan will be available live in the UK on the BBC website, on BBC Radio 5Live and via the channel’s interactive Red Button television service.

Highlights of these matches will also be available in the evenings of the matchdays and the final will be screened live on BBC Three on July 17.

The BBC has been a long-term broadcaster of women’s soccer, having screened England’s matches at the 2007 World Cup and the FA Women’s Cup final until 2009, when first ITV, and then Sky Sports took over the rights to the tournament.

England’s coach, Hope Powell stated: “I’m absolutely delighted the BBC will be showing our games at the World Cup. They showed all our games in 2007 and that did so much to raise the profile of the England team and of women’s football in general. The team the BBC sent out to China were very professional and I thought they did an excellent job. I know they will do just as good a job this time around. We are thrilled to have them on board.”