FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Rights Issue in India Finally Resolved

The long-standing uncertainty over the media and broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India has finally come to an end, bringing relief to millions of football fans. According to reports, discussions regarding the telecast rights have been successfully concluded, and an official announcement is expected next week. Former AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran confirmed on social media platform X that the negotiations have been completed, stating that fans can now look forward to watching the biggest-ever World Cup in India without disruption.

The delay in finalizing the deal was mainly due to financial disagreements, with FIFA initially demanding around USD 100 million from Indian broadcasters, later reducing it to USD 35 million. However, Indian companies hesitated due to the late-night match timings and limited advertising revenue potential. While public broadcaster Prasar Bharati opted out of the race, media reports suggest that Zee Network is currently leading the race to secure the rights, with a final agreement now reportedly in place.