Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on 11 June, uncertainty continues over how Indian fans will watch the tournament, with no official broadcaster yet confirmed for the country. The upcoming World

Cup is expected to feature global football stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, adding to the anticipation among football enthusiasts in India. However, the absence of a confirmed media rights holder has raised concerns over live telecast and digital streaming access in the country.

FIFA has not yet finalised or officially announced media rights distribution for India. Earlier discussions suggested that JioHotstar was among the frontrunners for securing the broadcasting rights, but negotiations reportedly failed to reach an agreement.

Sources indicate that JioHotstar had placed a bid of around 20 million US dollars, which fell short of FIFA’s expected valuation. FIFA is believed to have set a combined media rights package for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups at nearly 100 million US dollars. The gap between expected valuation and offers reportedly led to the breakdown of talks.

FIFA was also said to have sought around 35 million US dollars for the upcoming edition alone, but broadcasters were unwilling to meet the demand. JioHotstar reportedly did not increase its offer beyond the 20 million dollar range, resulting in the collapse of the deal. Meanwhile, Sony was also exploring the possibility of acquiring rights but ultimately did not proceed with a formal bid.

This situation is particularly notable given that during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, digital rights in India were acquired by JioCinema for approximately 60 million US dollars, allowing free streaming of the tournament.

With no confirmed broadcaster in place, speculation has now turned towards public broadcaster Doordarshan. Reports suggest that DD Sports may step in to telecast selected matches, including semi-finals, the final, and key knockout games, potentially making the tournament accessible via free-to-air television across India.

Doordarshan has previously broadcast major international sporting events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup, raising expectations that it could once again play a role in bringing the tournament to Indian audiences.

However, no official confirmation has been issued by FIFA, Jio, Sony, or Prasar Bharati regarding broadcast rights or coverage plans. As a result, uncertainty remains over how Indian viewers will access one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

Fans are now awaiting an official announcement as the tournament approaches, with hopes that clarity on broadcasting rights will be provided soon.