FIFA Fails to Secure World Cup Broadcast Deal in Indian Market

FIFA Struggles to Find Broadcast Rights Buyers in India Ahead of World Cup

India, with its large population, is expected to miss watching the upcoming FIFA World Cup due to a lack of broadcast rights buyers. The tournament is set to take place in North America, but Indian fans will not be able to access it on television.

According to FIFA, India trailed only China in overall engagement figures during the 2022 World Cup, with over 745 million fans following the event across all media platforms. In terms of television viewing numbers, India was among the top 10 countries, with nearly 84 million viewers tuning in for the final match.

FIFA had expected to sell broadcasting rights for the 2026 tournament and the 2027 Women’s Cup at an estimated price of $100m. However, with only 23 days left until the tournament, the asking price has reportedly been significantly reduced. Despite this, FIFA is still struggling to find buyers in India.

The main concern for Indian broadcasters is the kickoff times for most matches, which will be played at odd hours due to a 10-12 hour time difference between the host cities and India. Only 14 out of the total 104 World Cup games will begin before midnight for fans in India.

Experts point to the growing importance of digital media in India’s sports economy as a reason why broadcasters are not showing interest in the FIFA World Cup. According to Karan Taurani, executive vice president at Elara Capital, cricket leads the sports economy market in India and only a small fraction of people who watch the Indian Premier League will also watch the FIFA World Cup.

The final match of the 2026 tournament is scheduled to take place on July 19 in New Jersey, starting at 12:30am in India.

Source: Al Jazeera