Football fans in India could miss out on watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 live, as broadcast rights for the tournament remain unsold with just over two months left before kickoff.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 12, but no broadcaster in India has secured the media rights so far. This delay has raised serious concerns about whether fans will be able to watch the matches live on television or streaming platforms. Rights for the 2030 edition are also yet to be sold.
FIFA began the process of selling media rights in India in July 2025. However, despite multiple rounds of discussions, no deal has been finalized. According to reports, the asking price has been reduced significantly—from $100 million to $35 million—in an attempt to attract buyers.
Current market estimates suggest that JioStar values the rights for the next two World Cups at around $25 million. This is much lower compared to 2021, when Viacom18 paid $62 million for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it one of the biggest editions in history.
Experts believe the drop in price is due to major changes in the broadcasting industry. The merger of Star India and Viacom18 has reduced competition, leaving fewer companies willing to bid for expensive sports rights.
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Networks India, which holds rights to the UEFA Champions League, is being cautious with new sports investments due to financial pressures and a shift toward entertainment content.
Other platforms like FanCode and Eurosport have also shown limited interest in high-value deals. As a result, FIFA is largely dependent on JioStar, which currently dominates India’s sports broadcasting market through Star Sports and JioHotstar.
If no agreement is reached soon, Indian fans could be left without access to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
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