The Football Association has agreed its first-ever stand-along broadcast deal for the Women’s FA Cup.
The competition will be broadcast on the premium TNT Sports and free-to-air Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from the 2025/26 season.
The three-season deal will deliver a significant uplift in the number of matches that are broadcast live across the season of the competition, with a guarantee of live coverage from the First Round onwards.
The new deal will provide greater exposure to clubs from across the women’s football pyramid, with TNT Sports broadcasting 19 matches across the season.
Starting in October, this includes one match in the First Round and one in the Second Round, marking the first time in history that these rounds of the competition will be broadcast on television. Channel 4 will televise one match per round from the Third Round, with all six matches including the final co-exclusive on TNT Sports.
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of The FA, said: “This is a significant moment for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. We have two broadcast partners who are deeply committed to growing the competition and taking it to new audiences over the next three seasons. Channel 4 and TNT are brilliant sports broadcasters and are the perfect combination for this very special tournament.”
TNT Sports has already been confirmed as the broadcaster for the FA Cup and also holds the rights for the FA Youth Cup.
The Adobe Women’s FA Cup’s partnership with TNT Sports follows the four-year agreement made between the broadcaster and the Emirates FA Cup earlier this season, with TNT also holding the rights for the FA Youth Cup.
Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, said he was thrilled to bring the excitement of the Women’s FA Cup to football fans across the UK.” By offering free-to-air coverage, we can reach wider audiences, inspire the next generation of footballers, and celebrate the rising prominence of women’s sport.”
Scott Young, SVP Content, Production and Business Operations, WBD Sports, added “Starting with our team of passionate football storytellers, TNT Sports is excited by the opportunity to showcase the full breadth and power of women’s football stories – from grassroots through to the elite level.”
Women’s FA Cup fixtures, including Sunday’s final between Manchester United and Chelsea were shown by the BBC.
