Football fans in India could soon receive major news regarding the broadcast of upcoming FIFA World Cup tournaments. According to a report by Sports Business Journal, FIFA is expected to finalise a broadcast agreement for the Indian market valued between $30 million and $35 million.
As reported by Moneycontrol, the governing body of world football has been in discussions with multiple broadcasters and streaming platforms to secure media rights for the region. The deal is expected to cover television and digital streaming rights for future FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup.
The report stated that FIFA sees India as an important growth market because of the country’s rapidly expanding sports audience and increasing interest in global football competitions. The organisation is reportedly looking to strengthen its presence in South Asia through a long-term media partnership.
According to Sports Business Journal, the agreement could be officially announced in the coming weeks. While the names of the potential broadcasters have not yet been confirmed, the reports suggest JioHotsar and Zee are in the run to take the copyrights for broadcasting in India. In addition to that, the deal would include the 2026 and 2030 editions of the men’s World Cup.
The development was also confirmed by Shaji Prabhakaran, the former All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary, on Saturday. Taking to X, Prabhakaran said, “BIG NEWS FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL FANS! The wait is finally over. Negotiations are complete, and the official announcement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting partner in India is expected next week! After months of uncertainty, fans can finally relax, the World Cup will be fully accessible in India. Get ready for the biggest World Cup in History!
BIG NEWS FOR INDIAN FOOTBALL FANS!
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) May 23, 2026
The wait is finally over. Negotiations are complete, and the official announcement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting partner in India is expected next week! 🇮🇳
After months of uncertainty, fans can finally relax, the World Cup will be…
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court notified Centre and Prasar Bharti to seek rights for broadcasting FIFA World Cup 2026 in India as it also pointed out that the FIFA World Cup had already been notified as a “sporting event of national importance” under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, and argued that the government and Prasar Bharati were obligated to ensure public access to the tournament.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued notice while hearing a plea filed by advocate Avdhesh Bairwa under Article 226 of the Constitution. The petition argued that failure of broadcasting the biggest sporting event deal would deprive access to millions of football fans in India
Moneycontrol reported that football viewership in India has witnessed steady growth over the years, especially during international tournaments involving top national teams and global football stars. Major events such as the FIFA World Cup continue to attract millions of viewers across television and digital platforms in the country.
The report also highlighted that sports streaming and broadcasting companies are increasingly investing in premium international sporting properties as competition in India’s digital entertainment space intensifies.
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