Fifa, world football’s governing body, has opened an invitation to tender for media rights in the UK to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup national team competitions.
The rights cover television, IPTV, internet and mobile transmissions for Fifa’s flagship tournament, which will be held in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
Following a question and answer period lasting from April 4-25, submissions to Fifa must be received by 5pm on April 28. Negotiations with preferred bidders will open on April 29.
Public-service broadcaster the BBC and commercial broadcaster ITV are the current rights-holders of the World Cup in the UK. The World Cup forms part of the ‘crown jewels’ list of sporting events reserved for coverage on free-to-air television.