It has been reported that ITV made an unprecedented £0 offer to secure the broadcasting rights for the Club World Cup.
Streaming service DAZN recently acquired the rights to the revamped tournament, which has been held since 2000.
Sources indicate that ITV attempted to obtain the rights for free in a bold move.
The British network believed their capacity to reach a large audience would be sufficient to secure the deal.
Their plan was to broadcast the matches on their primary channels to maximize viewership.
However, FIFA was unconvinced and chose to accept DAZN’s substantial financial offer.
An ITV representative stated they would not comment on speculative contractual matters.
DAZN ultimately paid a significant £800 million ($1 billion) for the rights to the expanded 32-team competition.
There remains a possibility that ITV could still broadcast some Club World Cup games if DAZN decides to sublicense the rights to them.
DAZN is reportedly still considering this option, as they believe offering free-to-air games could attract more subscribers to their platform.
The Club World Cup is scheduled to commence in mid-June and will conclude on July 13.
The final match is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Jets and the New York Giants.
The 2025 Club World Cup promises to showcase top teams from around the world.
Chelsea and Manchester City will represent the Premier League, while Atletico and Real Madrid will represent LaLiga.
Marcus Bellamy