Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be broadcast in India? FIFA has now issued a fresh update amid uncertainty over whether fans in the country will be able to watch the tournament on television and digital streaming platforms.The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on June 11 next year. However, there is still no official broadcaster announced for India.
In a statement shared with Times of India, FIFA confirmed that talks regarding the sale of media rights in India are still ongoing.“FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in 180 territories around the world, ahead of the biggest ever FIFA World Cup. Discussions in India regarding sale of media rights for FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,” FIFA was quoted as saying.The issue has also reached the courts. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Prasar Bharati on a plea seeking the broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. The matter is expected to be heard again next week.
The uncertainty over broadcasting rights is not limited to India. FIFA is yet to finalise a broadcast agreement in China as well, despite the tournament being just a month away. Reports earlier this week claimed that FIFA officials are expected to travel to Beijing to try and complete a deal.For Indian football fans, FIFA’s latest statement indicates that discussions are still active, although there is no confirmation yet on which broadcaster or streaming platform will telecast the tournament in the country.The 2026 edition will also be the biggest FIFA World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams for the first time.
