Millions of soccer fans in India and China may miss the 2026 World Cup due to a broadcast rights deadlock. In India, Reliance-Disney offered $20 million, a fraction of FIFA's ask of $100 million. Sony also declined to make an offer, citing economic concerns. China has seen no deal announcement, despite being a crucial market with 200 million soccer fans.
FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in over 175 territories globally, but discussions in China and India remain ongoing. The lack of a confirmed broadcast agreement with India or China is unusual at this stage, with the 2026 tournament kicking off in just five weeks.
Reliance-Disney believes the World Cup will have lower viewership in India due to the tournament being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with most matches airing past midnight in India. The advertising slowdown linked to the Iranian war has further eroded revenue expectations.
