In a landmark move for women’s football, The Football Association (FA) has announced the first-ever stand-alone broadcast deal for the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, set to begin from the 2025/26 season. Under this new agreement, TNT Sports and Channel 4 will share broadcast rights in the UK and Republic of Ireland, delivering unprecedented coverage of the prestigious women’s tournament.
The three-season deal marks a major turning point in the visibility of the women’s game, offering live televised coverage starting from the First Round of the competition a historic first. In total, 19 matches will be shown live on TNT Sports, including one match each from the First and Second Rounds, starting in October 2025. Meanwhile, Channel 4 will broadcast one match per round from the Third Round onward, with the final and five additional matches airing co-exclusively on both networks.
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive, 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. We are delighted to be working with them and look forward to continuing to grow women’s football together.”
Until now, early-round games in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup had little or no television exposure. With this new arrangement, clubs from across the women’s football pyramid will gain valuable exposure, giving grassroots and lower-tier teams a national platform and fans more opportunities to follow their journey.
TNT Sports’ coverage begins in the earliest rounds of the competition, giving viewers an in-depth look at the breadth and depth of the women’s game. For the first time, fans will be able to watch First and Second Round games on television, helping build engagement from the grassroots level.
Scott Young, SVP Content, Production and Business Operations, WBD Sports, said, “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.” And 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. 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.”
Channel 4’s involvement will bring free-to-air coverage of the Women’s FA Cup to homes across the UK, significantly widening access. Starting from the Third Round, one match per round will air on Channel 4, ensuring viewers without pay-TV subscriptions can still engage with the tournament.
Pete Andrews, Head of Sport, Channel 4, said, “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.”
This deal comes on the heels of a four-year agreement between TNT Sports and the Emirates FA Cup earlier this season, where TNT also secured rights to the FA Youth Cup. By bringing the women’s and men’s competitions under the same broadcast roof, the FA is positioning itself to deliver more comprehensive and cohesive coverage of English football. While financial details of the broadcast agreement have not been disclosed, the FA is expected to benefit from increased commercial value and audience reach, helping drive the continued growth of women’s football in the UK and beyond.
About the Adobe Women’s FA Cup
The Adobe Women’s FA Cup is one of the most prestigious competitions in English women’s football, bringing together clubs from various levels of the football pyramid. Sponsored by Adobe since 2023, the tournament plays a key role in promoting and developing women’s football, with the final held annually at Wembley Stadium.