Broadcast Rights Deadlock Threatens 2026 World Cup in India

The 2026 World Cup is encountering significant broadcast challenges, particularly affecting millions of soccer fans in India, who may not be able to watch the tournament starting next month. This situation arises from a deadlock over broadcast rights, with no official decision made regarding the rights in India.

A joint venture between Reliance and Disney has offered $20 million for the broadcast rights, a figure that is a fraction of FIFA's asking price. Sources indicate that FIFA has not accepted this offer.

Additionally, Sony, another major player, reportedly held discussions but decided not to submit an offer for the broadcast rights in India. A third source with direct knowledge confirmed that no deal has been announced.

FIFA has previously noted that the 2022 World Cup accounted for 49.8 hours of viewing on digital social platforms globally. Neither Reliance nor Disney has responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.