Asia Struggles to Secure FIFA 2026 World Cup Broadcast Rights

As of now, Asia has not secured broadcast rights for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which is set to kick off on June 11, 2026. The tournament will feature a record 48 teams and 104 matches, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

Sandeep Goyal, chairman of the advertising agency Rediffus, highlighted that match times pose a challenge for viewership in India, where the time difference could lead to low audience engagement. Goyal noted that Indian media conglomerate Jiostar has offered $20 million for rights, while FIFA seeks $100 million for the 2026-2030 rights.

In China, state media reported that CCTV is negotiating for exclusive rights, while Thailand's NBTC has removed the World Cup from its list of free-to-air broadcasts, complicating access for fans. Malaysia's Unifi TV is expected to show the tournament, but negotiations are still ongoing.

The urgency of securing broadcast rights is underscored by the potential unrest if fans are unable to watch the event.