FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stated that top footballing nations in Europe could face a broadcast blackout for this year’s Women’s World Cup if media outlets do not improve their “disappointing” offers for the rights. Infantino said that offers from the “Big 5” countries, namely Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany and France, were not acceptable to football’s governing body, and a “slap in the face” to the players and “all women worldwide.” The World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, begins on July 20.

Infantino stated that it was FIFA’s moral and legal obligation not to undersell the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and that should the offers continue to be unfair, FIFA would be forced not to broadcast the tournament in the ‘Big 5’ European countries. Broadcasters offered only $1 million to $10 million for the rights, compared to $100 million to $200 million for the men’s World Cup rights. Although the matches will be held outside prime-time viewing hours for European markets due to the time-zone difference, Infantino said that this was not an excuse.

“Maybe … it’s not played on prime-time in Europe, but still, it is played at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., so it is quite a reasonable time,” he said.

The FIFA audit of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France stated that 1.12 billion viewers tuned in across all platforms.