FIFA is locked in a high-stakes standoff with broadcasters in India and China over 2026 World Cup rights, risking a blackout for nearly a quarter of the global digital audience.
Millions of soccer fans in India and China, the world's two most populous nations, may not be able to watch the World Cup starting next month due to a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China https://t.co/3ZwEdYuFrG pic.twitter.com/0T8CORovne
— Reuters Business (@ReutersBiz) May 4, 2026
A massive broadcast deadlock threatens to leave millions of soccer fans in India and China in the dark just weeks before the 2026 World Cup. In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture offered $20 million a fraction of FIFA’s valuation. “FIFA is looking for a similar amount for this edition,” a source noted, referencing the $60 million paid in 2022.
Negotiations are hampered by time zones and economic shifts. “Football is a niche segment in India,” one source explained, while an advertising slowdown linked to regional wars further erodes revenue hopes. FIFA maintains that “discussions in China and India… are ongoing and must remain confidential.” With the tournament starting June 11, experts describe the situation as “the end of a chess game with a couple of moves left.”
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