PCBL acquires free-to-view rights to FIFA Women’s World Cup

FIFA has awarded Pacific region free-to-air rights to next month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand, to the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL).

The deal means that PCBL will distribute the tournament to 24 free-to-air broadcasters in the Pacific islands and will ensure that at least one match per day will be available for free in each of the territories*.

The agreement applies to the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Federation States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and American Samoa.

The tournament kicks off on 20 July, with co-hosts New Zealand playing Norway. This is the first time the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be played across two countries, and it is also the first to feature 32 teams.

FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman, said: “We are delighted to work with Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited to ensure that all fans across the Pacific region can follow the matches live from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. This is the first time the tournament will be taking place in Oceania, so it is a great opportunity for football fans of all ages to be inspired by the greatest names in our sport, competing in women’s football’s premier competition, in a time zone where they can watch all the action unfold in the early to late evening.”