' FIFA -WORLD CUP- FIRE ' : HONOURS & ALARMS

FIFA World Cup faces a broadcast crisis. India and China risks global viewing gaps.

MILLIONS of football fans in the world's two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup that starts next month, due to a deadlock over broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China.

In India, a Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered $20 million for 2026 World Cup broadcasts rights, a fraction of FIFA's ask, which was not acceptable to football's global governing body, two sources told Reuters on Monday.

Sony hold talks but also decided not to make an offer for. FIFA rights for India, a third source with direct knowledge said.

There has also been no deal announcement for China, which FIFA says accounted for 49.8 % of all hours of viewing on digital and social platforms globally during the 2022 World Cup.

FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in over 175 territories globally, it said in a statement to Reuters.

'' Discussions in China and India regarding the sale of media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage,'' the statement said.

In past World Cups, including 2018 and 2022, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV secured the rights well in advance and began airing promotional content and sponsor-driven advertisements weeks before the tournament.

China account for 17.7% and India 2.9% off the global linear TV reach of the 2022 tournament.

The two countries together accounted for 22.6% of total global digital streaming reach for that World Cup.

The 2026 tournament kicks off on June 11, leaving barely five weeks for a deal to be finalised, broadcast infrastructure to be set up and advertisng inventory to be sold.  

!WOW! thanks Reuters.