India At Risk Of Missing FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast As Rights Remain Unsold

Indian football fans might be deprived of viewing the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as broadcast rights for the marquee event are still to be sold, with just over two months remaining for the spectacle to begin.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener all set for June 12, just two months away, broadcasters in India have yet to secure the rights, sparking concerns over whether fans will get live coverage. Rights haven’t been sold for the 2030 edition of the tournament either.

The international football governing body started the process to sell FIFA World Cup 2026 media rights in India in July 2025, but has yet to bag a buyer, with just over two months remaining before the tournament kicks off on June 12.

Officials, speaking anonymously to The Economic Times,

revealed that the asking price has been slashed from $100 million (Rs 923.8 crore) to $35 million (Rs 324.64 crore).

As per the report, incumbent rights holder JioStar has valued the broadcast rights for the next two editions at around $25 million (Rs 207 crore). By comparison, its predecessor Viacom18 had paid $62 million (Rs 450 crore at the time) in 2021 for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US.

Industry experts attribute the price correction to structural factors. The merger of Star India and Viacom18 has reduced competition, leaving fewer serious bidders for premium sports rights.

Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Networks India, holder of UEFA Champions League rights, is taking a cautious approach to sports acquisitions because of profitability pressures and a strategic pivot toward entertainment.

Other players, including FanCode (owned by Dream Sports) and Eurosport (owned by Warner Bros. Discovery), have shown limited interest in high-value deals. This has left global bodies like FIFA reliant on JioStar, which dominates sports broadcasting via Star Sports and JioHotstar.