Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has confirmed the conclusion of discussions regarding the Indian broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026. An official announcement on the broadcasting partner for India is anticipated to be made next week. This news comes after a period of uncertainty, with the tournament set to kick off in less than three weeks.
The issue of broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India has been a topic of concern, especially with no broadcaster securing the media rights yet. The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11 (June 12, 12:30 am IST) across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Delhi High Court recently addressed this matter, where Prasar Bharati clarified its stance on the broadcasting rights during a hearing before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
Advocate Avdhesh Bairwa filed a petition seeking nationwide access to major tournament events like the FIFA World Cup on platforms such as Doordarshan and DD Sports. The petition aimed to ensure that all significant football fixtures, from the opening game to the final, including quarterfinals and semifinals, are broadcast on these channels for the Indian audience. However, during a hearing on May 19, Bairwa requested to withdraw the petition with the option to seek relief from another court.
India boasts the second-largest football fan base globally, with significant digital engagement during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Despite not qualifying for the tournament, Indian fans generated around 745.7 million digital interactions with football events. The main challenge concerning broadcast rights lies in the cost aspect. FIFA initially priced the Indian rights package at USD 100 million but later reduced it to USD 35 million due to a subdued market response. Notably, a USD 20 million bid from JioStar was reportedly turned down during the court proceedings.
