Why has FIFA not signed a World Cup broadcast deal in India?
Summary
FIFA has not yet sold the broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup in India, despite the country's large football fan base. The main reason is the time difference, which causes matches to air late at night or early morning in India, making them less attractive to broadcasters and advertisers.Key Facts
- India had over 745 million football fans following the 2022 World Cup, second only to China.
- Nearly 84 million people in India watched World Cup matches on TV in 2022.
- Digital streaming was also popular, with 32 million viewers for the final on JioCinema.
- Reliance’s Jio paid $60 million for the 2022 World Cup rights; Sony Sports paid $90 million for earlier tournaments.
- FIFA expected to sell 2026 World Cup rights in India for about $100 million but has not found buyers yet.
- Most matches in 2026 will air late at night or early morning in India due to the tournament being hosted in North America.
- Only 14 out of 104 matches in 2026 start before midnight Indian time, compared to nearly all matches starting earlier in 2018 and 2022.
- Cricket dominates the sports market in India, attracting more viewers and advertisers than football.
- A recent Indian government ban on real-money fantasy betting apps may also have affected broadcaster interest.
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