FIFA Faces Broadcast Rights Crisis Ahead of 2026 World Cup

FIFA is encountering a broadcast crisis in India and China as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams. Negotiations for broadcast rights have reached an impasse, with FIFA initially seeking $100 million for rights in India and $300 million in China.

However, the offers have dropped significantly, with expectations for India's rights to fall to $35 million. Jiostar is reportedly leading the bid with an offer of $20 million, but no deal has been finalized.

Shaji Prabhakaran, a member of the executive committee of the Asian Football Confederation, indicated that the issues stem from the cost rather than scheduling, despite matches being scheduled for late evening and early morning in India. Additionally, CCTV in China has shown little interest in the low offers, presenting a major problem for FIFA.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that without broadcast agreements in these territories, the World Cup could miss out on reaching a significant portion of the world's population.