It is reported that ITV made an astonishing £0 bid in an attempt to secure the broadcast rights for the Club World Cup.
Streaming service DAZN recently acquired the rights to the revamped tournament, which was first held in 2000.
Sources indicate that ITV aimed to secure the rights without any financial offer in a bold move.
The British broadcaster apparently believed their capacity to reach a large audience would be sufficient to win the rights.
Their plan was to broadcast the matches on their primary free-to-air channels to maximize viewership.
However, FIFA was not convinced and decided to accept DAZN’s substantial financial offer instead.
An ITV representative stated they do not comment on speculative contractual matters.
Ultimately, DAZN paid a significant £800million ($1billion) for the rights to broadcast the expanded 32-team tournament.
There remains a possibility that ITV could still broadcast some Club World Cup matches if DAZN decides to sublicense the rights to them.
DAZN is reportedly still considering this option, as offering free-to-air games could encourage football fans to subscribe to their service.
The Club World Cup is set to commence in mid-June and will conclude on July 13.
The final match is scheduled to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants NFL teams.
The 2025 Club World Cup is anticipated to showcase top football clubs from around the world.
Chelsea and Manchester City will represent the Premier League, while Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will represent LaLiga.
