India’s FIFA World Cup Broadcast Deal A Done Deal, Nearing Announcement - Report

Last Updated:May 23, 2026, 15:44 IST

Indian football fans may finally get clarity on the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast as ex-AIFF chief Shaji Prabhakaran says negotiations are complete.

Indian football fans may finally have reason to relax.

After weeks of uncertainty and growing anxiety, it now appears increasingly likely that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will indeed be broadcast live in India.

With less than three weeks remaining before the tournament kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico on June 11, there had still been no official announcement regarding the Indian broadcast partner for football’s biggest spectacle.

That silence had sparked widespread concern among fans, especially given the scale of the tournament and India’s massive football audience.

But now, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has offered what could be the clearest indication yet that a deal is finally in place.

‘The Wait Is Finally Over’

Prabhakaran took to X to claim that negotiations for the Indian broadcasting rights have been completed, with an official announcement expected soon.

“The wait is finally over. Negotiations are complete, and the official announcement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting partner in India is expected next week," he wrote online.

While there has still been no confirmation from FIFA itself, the update comes as a huge relief for Indian viewers who were beginning to fear a chaotic last-minute scramble.

According to an earlier Reuters report, FIFA media rights executives had travelled to India recently to hold discussions regarding the sale of broadcasting rights.

However, the governing body remained tight-lipped about the parties involved and the finer details of those meetings.

A High-Stakes Deal

Reports suggest FIFA had been seeking around $100 million for the combined Indian broadcast rights for both the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups.

Back in 2022, Reliance Industries’ then standalone media division had reportedly secured the Qatar World Cup rights for roughly $60 million, with the agreement finalised more than a year before the tournament began.

This time, however, the delay has been unusually long — leaving barely weeks for broadcasters to establish infrastructure, launch promotions and sell advertising inventory.

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