FIFA 2026 Broadcast Rights Deal Nearing Finish Line in India

After months of tense talks, India appears ready to name the official broadcaster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran confirmed on social media that discussions have wrapped up and an announcement is slated for next week. The development ends a period of anxiety for supporters who feared the tournament might not be shown locally. The expanded 48-team event kicks off in June across North America, and rights holders need to move quickly to prepare programming. The issue reached the Delhi High Court when a petition demanded that all matches be aired on public broadcaster Doordarshan. Prasar Bharati informed the court it held no responsibility for acquiring the rights, after which the petition was withdrawn. Industry sources say FIFA lowered its asking price from an initial $100 million to around $35 million to attract bidders. A $20 million offer from JioStar reportedly failed to meet expectations. The delay had raised questions about access for India’s second-largest football audience in the world. With the 2022 tournament already proving strong digital interest, the upcoming announcement is expected to reassure fans that every match will be available across television and digital platforms.