World Cup Broadcast Uncertainty in China and India
Saturday, 2026/05/09155 words2 minutes4230 reads
Football fans in China and India are facing uncertainty about watching the World Cup. With only weeks until the tournament begins, broadcasters in these countries have not yet reached agreements with FIFA, football's governing body.
This situation is unusual for such a major sporting event. Typically, TV rights deals are settled months or even years in advance. Local media reports suggest the main issue is the cost of broadcasting rights.
FIFA initially asked China's state broadcaster CCTV for around $300 million. Though FIFA has lowered this to between $120-150 million, it still exceeds CCTV's budget by more than double. Beijing Daily noted that interest may be lower because China hasn't qualified for the tournament, and time differences mean many games will air in the early morning hours for Chinese viewers.
Together, China and India represent about one-third of the world's population. FIFA confirmed that 180 territories have completed deals, and negotiations with remaining countries continue.
