All WSL games will be streamed live free of charge as from next season. This means all of Arsenal Women’s league games will be available free of charge and un-geoblocked as from next season. The FA will launch the FA Player app on 2nd September, which will show every WSL game live, as well as selected Conti Cup, Women’s FA Cup and England internationals.
BBC and BT Sport will continue to show live games on their channels in the UK, but the FA Player app represents a game changer for live coverage of the Women’s Super League. Games will be viewable in all territories across the globe. The move aims to capitalise on the interest in this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
✨ The new home for women's football ✨
Bringing you every @BarclaysFAWSL game live… for free.
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) August 6, 2019
With Spurs and Manchester United promoted to the WSL this season, the Premier League’s top 6 men’s sides are represented in the top flight of women’s football for the first time. Making the games freely available globally also aims to tap into the worldwide fan bases of England’s biggest clubs.
The FA’s director of the women’s professional game, Kelly Simmons, said: “This announcement is a pivotal and significant step in the FA’s journey to grow the women’s game and attract new audiences. We know people want to watch football in different ways, with content that’s quickly and easily accessible.
“This new live streaming service will give them unique access to over 150 live fixtures in all competitions, all available at the click of a button. This will help build on the fantastic coverage BBC and BT Sport give the women’s game on their channels so that fans can enjoy the best of women’s football when and how they wish.”
Arsenal begin their FAWSL season on Sunday, 8th September with a home match against West Ham United which you will be able to watch live through the app.
This is fantastic news. I can now watch WSL games both in Germany and in India, avoiding them dodgy streaming sites.
This is a big step foward but i hope it doesn’t hamper live attendances
hmm FA Player app.
How long before the FA cuts out the middle man and offers subscription-based football directly to the viewer?
I can’t shake off the feeling that this is also some kind of test run for the possibility of doing the same for the men’s game.
Other than that, great development for the women’s game!
You say that like it’d be worse than what we’ve got now. I’d take it over 3 different subscriptions bloated with TV that I don’t need.
They could even cut out other football, don’t have time for much that isn’t Arsenal. Give me a digital season ticket over sky, bt and amazon any day.
Is that such a bad thing?
At a reasonable price, I can finally let go of my sky and BT subscriptions, as sports (football, boxing and MMA) are the only reasons I have the damn thing.
And this is certainly great news.
Cash is king, viewing rights will always go to the highest bidder.
Un-geoblocked too? Wow
This could be a real game-changer for driving commercial interest in the game and raising the profile of the best players in the WSL (many of whom play for The Arsenal, heh).
Indeed. It could make the English league seem the most prestigious and well known women’s league about.
That’s the great thing about developing product likes women’s football, due to lack of capital and legacy processes in place, they’re far more willing to try their hands at innovative solutions such as this.
This is great news!
How to get the app?
Sorted…
Log in for the last minute for the shirt swapping. Sorry the ghost of Bernard Manning made me post this.
This is fantastic news, should really help with global number following the WSL. Excited to watch both Arsenal teams dominate this season.
Pumped for this. Excited to have my kids watch fixtures on the couch with me in the early mornings.