The build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is already gathering pace, but in India, there’s still a basic question with no clear answer: where will people actually watch it? The tournament is set to begin in June 2026, spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and while fans around the world are gearing up, the situation back home feels a bit uncertain.
Right now, there isn’t any official broadcaster or streaming platform in India that has picked up the rights. That’s unusual for a competition of this scale. In the past, the World Cup has always found a way onto screens easily, whether through TV or streaming, but this time, things feel a little more open-ended.
Why the FIFA World Cup broadcast situation in India is still unclear
A big part of it comes down to how the market has shifted. FIFA has reportedly brought down the price for India’s media rights for both the 2026 and 2030 World Cups from around $100 million to nearly $35 million. Even after that drop, there’s still no confirmed deal in place, which says a lot about the current state of things.
FIFA cuts India media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups from $100M to $35M but still can’t find buyers for WCs.
Viacom18 paid a record $62M for 2022, so the drop is sharp, overall football rights in India are struggling as even ISL rights have fallen from over ₹200 Cr per… pic.twitter.com/J7DIxuJata
— Ragav X (@ragav_x) April 9, 2026
It becomes even more noticeable when you look back at the last edition. Viacom18 spent a record $62 million to secure the 2022 World Cup rights. At the time, it felt like football was gaining serious commercial momentum in India. Now, the picture looks a bit different.
The same pattern is visible in domestic football as well. The Indian Super League has seen its media rights value drop sharply, from over ₹200 crore per year to somewhere around ₹8 crore. That kind of fall hints at a more cautious approach from broadcasters, possibly due to changing audience trends and returns not matching expectations.
There’s still time for things to change. As the tournament gets closer, interest will naturally build, and that could bring broadcasters back into the mix. The World Cup is still one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, and it’s hard to imagine it not being widely available in a market like India.
For now, though, it remains a waiting game. The tournament is locked in for June 2026, but exactly where Indian fans will watch it is still up in the air.
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