Browsing: FIFA World Cup 2026

Millions of Indian football fans face a potential blackout for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the nation’s primary broadcasters, JioStar (a Reliance-Disney joint venture) and Sony, have yet to reach a financial agreement with FIFA for the tournament’s media rights. The deadlock persists in India and [China] just weeks before the June 11, 2026 kickoff because FIFA’s revised asking price of approximately $35 million still dwarfs the $20 million bid placed by JioStar. Broadcasters are hesitant to meet higher valuations due to the North American host locations, which place most matches in late-night or early-morning Indian Standard Time slots (12:30 AM to 7 AM IST), severely limiting potential advertising revenue and simultaneous viewership.