The Women’s World Cup is by most estimates the biggest sporting event to be staged in Australia since the Sydney Olympics. But while viewers in Australia could watch all 64 games of the recent men’s World Cup played in Qatar on a free-to-air network, FIFA struck a deal for the broadcast rights to the Women’s World Cup — as it did when the tournament was played in France four years ago — with the cellphone operator Optus, which has placed the bulk of the matches on its pay television network. For viewers in Australia, that has meant the majority of games can only be watched via subscription, making it harder for viewers living in one of the tournament’s host countries to watch the tournament than it has been for fans in places like Europe and the United States. “It’s very disappointing to not have the coverage the women deserve,” said Beth Monkley, who was in Brisbane with her daughter this week to follow Australia’s team. And for some reason Australia has decided not to show all the games free to air.”

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Persons: “, ”, Beth Monkley Organizations: Sydney Olympics, FIFA, Optus Locations: Australia, Qatar, France, Europe, United States, Brisbane