FIFA faces rare broadcast deadlock in two of its biggest markets: India, China

FIFA is yet to secure broadcast partners for the 2026 World Cup in India and China, leaving the world’s two most populous nations without confirmed access to the tournament just weeks before kick‑off.

In a statement to Reuters, FIFA said only that discussions in both markets are “ongoing” and “confidential”, without giving reasons for the delay. Neither country has issued a political statement declining the tournament; the issue is understood to be commercial, not diplomatic.

India and China push back on FIFA’s pricing

In India, broadcasters have resisted FIFA’s initial asking price of around USD 100 million for the 2026 and 2030 cycles. Industry reports say the Reliance‑Disney joint venture has offered about USD 20 million, a figure FIFA has not accepted. Broadcasters argue that late‑night match timings in North America and India’s cricket‑heavy market make higher bids difficult to justify.

China, meanwhile, has publicly signalled its position through state media. The Global Times reported that CCTV, the state broadcaster with exclusive authority to negotiate World Cup rights, has not reached an agreement with FIFA due to pricing concerns, with analysts saying FIFA’s fee demands have risen sharply. CCTV is reportedly only willing to pay a significantly lower amount. FIFA, responding to the Global Times, confirmed that negotiations remain ongoing but declined to comment on pricing.

The absence of deals in both countries is unusual for FIFA, which has already concluded agreements in more than 175 territories. China and India delivered some of the largest global audiences for the 2022 World Cup, with FIFA data indicating that World Cup content reached more than a billion people in China and over 700 million in India across TV, digital and social platforms.

A prolonged deadlock risks reducing global reach for the tournament and driving fans in both markets to unofficial streaming platforms.