First ever stand-alone broadcast deal for women's FA Cup announced

The Football Association (FA) has announced the first-ever stand-alone broadcast agreement for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, with TNT Sports and Channel 4 set to air the competition in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland starting from the 2025–26 season.

This landmark three-year deal represents a significant expansion in the number of matches broadcast live throughout the tournament. For the first time, coverage will begin from the 1st round proper, ensuring live broadcasts from the outset of the competition.

The agreement enhances visibility for clubs across all tiers of the women’s football pyramid. TNT Sports will televise 19 matches per season, starting in October with one fixture from both the first and second rounds—marking the first-ever television broadcast of these early-stage games.

Channel 4 will air one match per round from the third round onwards. Additionally, all six matches from the third round through to the Final will be co-broadcast on TNT Sports.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham commented: “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. We’re delighted to be working with them and look forward to continuing to grow women’s football together.”

The new partnership with TNT Sports builds on the broadcaster’s existing commitment to the FA, following a four-year agreement for coverage of the Emirates FA Cup signed earlier this season. TNT Sports also holds rights to the FA Youth Cup.

Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, stated: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Channel 4 will be bringing the excitement of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup to football fans across the UK.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible talent and dedication of women’s football teams nationwide. 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 at WBD Sports, added:
“Welcoming the Adobe Women’s FA Cup to join the men’s competition on TNT Sports underlines our ongoing commitment to partner with and grow women’s sport across the sporting calendar – from football to rugby, cycling, tennis and more.
“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. We look forward to bringing the two competitions together and deliver an ambition to show more FA Cup coverage than ever before, to innovate in our coverage and promotion, and to give the women’s game a fantastic platform to reach millions of fans on TNT Sports.”