Sports
FIFA World Cup broadcast in doubt for India and China
Fans in two of the world’s biggest markets risk missing the tournament due to stalled rights talks just weeks before kick-off.
MUMBAI: The World Cup is about to kick off, but millions of fans in India and China could be left on the sidelines. A deadlock over broadcast rights has cast a major shadow over the 2026 tournament, which begins on 11 June. In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered just $20 million for rights far below FIFA’s initial ask of $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 editions. Sony also held talks but ultimately decided not to make an offer. No deal has been announced for China either.
The situation is unusual at this late stage. In 2022, Reliance secured rights for around $60 million, announced well in advance. That tournament drew over 110 million digital viewers in India. China, meanwhile, accounted for 49.8 per cent of all global digital and social viewing hours during the last World Cup and represented 17.7 per cent of linear TV reach.
With the tournament being hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico, most matches will air past midnight in India, which has dampened commercial expectations. Football also lacks the advertising muscle of cricket in the country.
The absence of confirmed broadcasters in these two massive markets which together made up 22.6 per cent of global digital streaming reach in 2022 could significantly impact global viewership and revenue for FIFA.
As the clock ticks down with barely five weeks to go, fans in the world’s two most populous nations are left wondering whether they will get to watch the biggest show in football or be forced to sit this one out.
