Why has FIFA not signed a World Cup broadcast deal in India? | World Cup 2026 News
New Delhi, India — In December 2022, when Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive penalty kick that clinched his country’s third FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, fans in India were quick to celebrate. In Bangalore, a city renowned for its passion for football, Vishwas Banerjee, a devoted Lionel Messi supporter, marked the occasion with exuberance, screaming and tossing his shirt in delight as he watched the match unfold on a large screen near midnight.
“It was one of the best nights, watching Messi lift the World Cup,” Banerjee recalled. “Everyone went crazy. We danced in the streets,” he said, reflecting on the fervor experienced over 3,000 kilometers away in a country generally dominated by cricket.
As Messi gears up for what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance in the upcoming tournament across North America, Indian football enthusiasts are faced with an unfortunate reality: they may miss the opportunity to watch the event altogether. With just over three weeks until the tournament’s kickoff in Mexico, FIFA has yet to secure a broadcasting agreement for its flagship event in India.
How Many People Watch the FIFA World Cup in India?
During the last World Cup held in Qatar, India ranked second only to China in overall viewer engagement, with over 745 million fans following the tournament across various media platforms, according to FIFA statistics. On television, India was among the top 10 viewing countries, surpassing World Cup competitors like Germany, France, and England, with nearly 84 million viewers.
Digital viewership also surged, with 32 million people tuning in to watch the final on Reliance’s JioCinema streaming service. Altogether, the platform recorded 40 billion minutes of watch time throughout the tournament. In 2022, Reliance paid $60 million for the broadcasting rights, while Sony Sports had previously secured rights for the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as Euro 2016, for approximately $90 million in 2013.
As FIFA began to sell media rights for the upcoming 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup, it anticipated significant interest even at an estimated price of $100 million. However, with just 23 days to go until the tournament, and after reportedly reducing the asking price considerably, FIFA is still struggling to find buyers in one of its largest markets.
Why Are There No Buyers for the 2026 World Cup in India?
Experts attribute the lack of interest among Indian broadcasters primarily to the challenging kickoff times for many matches. Scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the majority of games will be aired at inconvenient hours for Indian viewers, with a time difference of 10 to 12 hours from the host cities. Only 14 out of the 104 World Cup games will begin before midnight in India, with the final set to start at 12:30 a.m. IST on July 19.
Karan Taurani, executive vice president at Elara Capital, underscores that television is becoming a less viable medium for sporting events in India. “With these types of events, it is mainly digital platforms that are monetizing and generating revenue,” he noted. Taurani explained that cricket dominates the sports market, and very few viewers who watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) will opt to watch the FIFA World Cup, especially past midnight.
The diminishing financial opportunity for broadcasters is compounded by a recent ban on real-money fantasy betting apps in India, which has further shrunk the market for sports entertainment. Additionally, the FIFA World Cup coincides with the IPL final, significantly reducing the focus of advertisers during one of the country’s most-watched sports events.
The trend in football rights has also declined; rights for the English Premier League, previously sold for $145 million for three seasons, dropped to $65 million for 2025-2028, with little interest in La Liga matches.
FIFA has expressed concern that the lack of broadcasting interest in India could negatively impact both revenues and its efforts to promote football within one of the world’s largest media markets.
In New Delhi, the High Court is currently reviewing a plea regarding the absence of a broadcast deal, with responses sought from India’s information and broadcasting ministry and Doordarshan, the state-owned television network. The petition claims that not being able to watch the tournament violates citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech and access to information.
As football fans in India await a resolution, hope remains that a broadcasting deal can be reached. If not, attention will turn to Doordarshan, which last aired the World Cup in 1998. The ongoing uncertainty is dampening enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament, with fans like Banerjee expressing disappointment. “I’m heartbroken that we will not have any reliable way to watch the World Cup this year,” he said, adding, “But we will tune in to pirated streams anyway. No one can stop that.”
