New Delhi, May 18: With less than a month remaining before the FIFA World Cup 2026, India is yet to secure an official broadcaster for the tournament, leaving football fans uncertain over live coverage of the global showpiece event.
The issue has now reached the Delhi High Court, which recently issued a notice to Prasar Bharati after a petition sought directions to ensure telecast of the World Cup on free-to-air platforms like Doordarshan and DD Sports.
According to reports, FIFA’s negotiations with Indian broadcasters remain stalled over valuation. FIFA had initially sought nearly $100 million for the India rights package for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before reportedly reducing the asking price to around $35 million.
JioStar is said to have offered around $20 million, but the bid was rejected. Industry experts believe late-night match timings including 12:30 am, 3:30 am and 6:30 am IST due to the North America-hosted tournament could affect viewership and advertising revenue in India.
Reports also suggest that Prasar Bharati has held exploratory talks with FIFA as a backup option if private negotiations fail. Meanwhile, fans continue to wait for clarity over where they can watch the World Cup live. (Agencies)
