Millions of football fans in India may not be able to watch the much-awaited FIFA World Cup, which starts next month, as Reuters reported a deadlock over the tournament's broadcast rights.
The Reliance-Disney joint venture in India has offered $20 million for the 2026 World Cup broadcast rights. This was a fraction of FIFA's ask and unacceptable to the global soccer governing body, Reuters reported, citing two unnamed sources.
FIFA is yet to announce a deal for broadcasting the games in India and China. The latter accounted for 49.8% of all viewing hours on digital and social platforms during the last World Cup.
"Discussions in China and India regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ?are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.
For India, FIFA initially sought $100 million for broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, the ?sources told Reuters.
In 2022, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance secured the media rights for the World Cup for about $60 million, and the deal was announced about 14 months before the event in Qatar. "FIFA is looking for a similar amount for this edition of the tournament," a source within FIFA told Reuters.
Reliance and Disney have since formed a joint venture to emerge as a dominant force in India's streaming space.
-
Bihar NDA Government Prepares for Major Cabinet Expansion on May 7
-
Final Marks Released for BPSSC Range Officer of Forest Recruitment 2025
-
Indian illustrator Anand RK, journalist Suparna Sharma win Pulitzer Prize for illustrated reporting
-
BJP Appoints J.P. Nadda as Central Observer for Assam Legislative Party Leadership
-
Rare Oriental Pied Hornbill Spotted in Arunachal Pradesh, Signaling Ecological Health
