FIFA Seals World Cup Broadcast Deal with China
Tuesday, 2026/05/19178 words3 minutes830 reads
FIFA has finally secured a World Cup broadcast rights agreement with China, just 27 days before the tournament begins. The deal with China Media Group covers four World Cups through 2031, including both men's and women's tournaments.
The 2026 World Cup rights were valued at $60 million, significantly lower than FIFA's original asking price of $300 million. The reduced price reflects FIFA's weaker negotiating position due to unfavorable time differences of up to 15 hours between Beijing and the North American host cities.
The upcoming tournament will feature 48 teams playing 104 games across the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11. China did not qualify for this competition. Despite the lower broadcast fee, Chinese companies have invested heavily as sponsors. Lenovo is a top-tier partner, while Mengniu and Hisense hold second-tier deals.
FIFA expects to earn more than $11 billion from the 2026 World Cup. Future tournaments included in the agreement will be hosted in various locations, with the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil and the 2031 Women's World Cup primarily in the United States.
