Millions of football enthusiasts in India and China are facing **uncertainty regarding the broadcast of the upcoming World Cup**, as local broadcasters have yet to finalize agreements with FIFA, the sport’s global governing body. This situation is considered **unusual**, given that such large-scale event broadcasting rights are typically secured months, or even years, before the opening ceremony, not just weeks prior.
Reports from local media in both nations indicate that FIFA and potential broadcasters are still **negotiating the financial terms** for airing the matches. FIFA informed the BBC that discussions in China and India “are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,” declining to comment on specific fees.
While FIFA has confirmed that **180 territories have already finalized their broadcasting agreements**, a few, including India and China – which collectively represent approximately **one-third of the global population** – are still without secured rights for the 2026 World Cup.
For China, FIFA’s initial offer to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) for the tournament rights was reportedly as high as **$300 million**. According to the state-controlled Beijing Daily, this price has since been reduced to between **$120 million and $150 million**. However, this revised figure still reportedly exceeds CCTV’s allocated budget for the event by more than double. The Beijing Daily also highlighted that China’s non-qualification for the tournament might lead to reduced fan interest. Furthermore, the significant time difference between China and North America means many key matches would air in the early morning hours for Chinese viewers. Historically, agreements between China and FIFA for previous World Cups were finalized much earlier; for instance, an exclusive deal with CCTV for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was announced in November 2017.
In India, while an agreement between FIFA and an Indian broadcaster is yet to be announced, local media reports this week suggest that a **deal is imminent**.
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