Coverage of all England national women’s football team matches will now be broadcast by ITV until 2025 from September onwards.

The terrestrial network will provide coverage of all England women’s tournament qualifiers and internationals, including friendly fixtures. Coverage will begin on Friday 17 September for the Lionesses’ FIFA World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia.

ITV now holds the media rights to international fixtures involving both the England national women’s and men’s teams, showing the latter’s World Cup, UEFA European Championship and friendly games, home and away, until 2022 

“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 Euro next summer,” remarked Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport.

“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.”

For ITV, the deal represents an expansion of its portfolio of sports, which also includes the Rugby Six Nations, Extreme E and Matchroom Sports-promoted snooker and darts

Meanwhile, the agreement provides a further boost to coverage of professional women’s football in the UK, building on the triple agreement signed between the FA and the BBC, BT Sport and Sky Sports, granting the three companies the broadcasting rights to the FA Women’s Super League (FA WSL).

Kathryn Swarbrick, FA Commercial and Marketing Director, commented: “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 FAWSL season over the weekend and this new game changing partnership, it is a truly exciting time for Women’s football in England.”