New Delhi: Will 2026 FIFA World Cup Will it be broadcast in India? FIFA has now issued a fresh update amid uncertainty over whether fans in the country will be able to watch the tournament on television and digital streaming platforms.The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on June 11 next year. However, no official broadcaster has been announced for India yet.
In a statement shared with The Times of India, FIFA confirmed that discussions regarding the sale of media rights in India are still ongoing.“FIFA has signed deals with broadcasters in 180 territories around the world ahead of the biggest FIFA World Cup ever. Negotiations in India regarding the sale of media rights for FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and should remain confidential at this stage,” FIFA said.The matter has reached the courts. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Prasar Bharti on its request to telecast the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. The case is expected to be heard again next week.
Uncertainty over broadcasting rights is not limited to India. FIFA has yet to finalize a broadcast deal in China either, even though the tournament is only a month away. Reports earlier this week claimed FIFA officials were expected to travel to Beijing to try to hammer out a deal.For Indian football fans, FIFA’s latest statement indicates that talks are still active, although there is no confirmation yet as to which broadcaster or streaming platform will telecast the tournament in the country.The 2026 edition will also be the biggest FIFA World Cup in history, with 48 teams participating for the first time.
