The biggest spectacle in football—the FIFA World Cup 2026—is set to kick off on June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, with just a few weeks left until the tournament begins, there is bad news for millions of football fans in India. As of now, no Indian TV channel or OTT platform has purchased the broadcast rights for this World Cup 2026.
But why did such a situation arise? Let’s dive into the real reasons behind this massive broadcasting deadlock and check out the latest updates.
1. FIFA’s Massive Financial Demands vs. Broadcasters’ Reluctance
The main issue regarding the broadcast rights revolves around the financial figures. Initially, FIFA demanded around $100 million (approximately ₹830 crores) for the combined rights of the 2026 and 2030 World Cups. However, no Indian company was willing to pay this staggering amount. Although FIFA later reduced this asking price to $35 million, a resolution has still not been reached.
2. JioStar’s Offer and Sony’s Exit
For the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Viacom18 (JioCinema) bought the rights for roughly $60 million. But this time, ‘JioStar‘—the new joint venture between Reliance and Disney—offered FIFA a mere $20 million, which FIFA directly rejected. On the other hand, Sony, which broadcasted the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, has made it clear that such a massive investment is not profitable for them in the current market. As a result, they have completely pulled out of the bidding process.
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3. Lack of Sponsorship and Advertising
Why are broadcasters offering such low amounts? The biggest reason behind this is the time zone difference. The matches will take place in North America, which means, according to Indian Standard Time, most matches will start after 10 PM, around midnight, or early in the morning. Since fewer viewers will tune in at these odd hours, sponsors and advertisers are showing little interest. Furthermore, a recent slump in advertising from real-money gaming or fantasy apps has closed off a major revenue stream for broadcasters.
4. Doordarshan (DD Sports)’s Exit and Legal Battles
Many hoped that the matches would be available for free on the government channel Doordarshan or DD Sports. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was even filed in the Delhi High Court regarding this. However, Prasar Bharati recently clarified in court that purchasing the broadcast rights for an expensive commercial tournament like the FIFA World Cup is out of their budget. Consequently, the hope of watching the matches on TV for free is almost dead.
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5. A New Surprise Entry: Avni LLC
Just when despair seemed to surround every corner, a Washington D.C.-based Indian-American investment firm, Avni LLC, suddenly entered the race to buy the broadcast rights. They claim to have submitted a massive financial guarantee to FIFA and are planning to show the matches in India through OTT platforms, AI-driven multilingual coverage, and mobile subscriptions. However, FIFA has yet to make an official announcement regarding this.
What Could Finally Happen?
All things considered, FIFA is currently facing significant pressure in the Indian market. In the immediate run-up to the tournament, FIFA might be compelled to strike a compromise deal with JioStar for a moderate sum, or a newcomer like Avni LLC could pull off a surprise. Otherwise, viewers may have to pay to watch the matches on platforms such as FIFA+, YouTube Prime, or Amazon Prime. Of course, you can also watch for free—keep an eye on URPrimeZone for tips on how to do so.
For now, football fans have no choice but to wait. Stay tuned to our site for the latest World Cup news and ultimate live streaming updates!