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Japan, whose Nadeshiko team won the World Cup
in 2011 and reached the final in 2015, is the last major country
where broadcasters have yet to strike a deal with FIFA a month
out from the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
"For women's soccer to develop in the future in Japan, it's
important we have many people watching and supporting us," Ikeda
told Reuters.
"I think it's important that the tournament is broadcast and I
really hope everyone will be able to watch. Whether it will be
broadcasted or not we don't know yet, but it is important to
show it on television and I really hope everyone can watch it."
This is the first time the rights to the Women's World Cup have
not been bundled with those of the men's tournament and FIFA
President Gianni Infantino described the initial bids from major
markets as "unacceptable".
FIFA had threatened a blackout in major European markets before
reaching an agreement with broadcasters in Britain, Spain,
France, Germany and Italy last week.
Fuji TV and state broadcaster NHK held the Japanese rights for
the 2019 Women's World Cup but neither would comment on the
standoff with FIFA when contacted by Reuters last week.
As things stand, the World Cup games will be available in Japan
but only online via the FIFA app and without Japanese
commentary.
Ikeda said the broadcasting saga was unlikely to prove too much
of a distraction for his squad, who have been drawn in Group C
with Spain, Costa Rica and Zambia at the July 20-Aug. 20
tournament.
"No matter what the decision is, we will put on a performance as
we prepared," he added. "There might be some impact but our team
won't be overly affected."
(Additional reporting and writing by Anton Bridge, editing by
Nick Mulvenney and Peter Rutherford)
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