FIFA is close to finalising a broadcast rights deal for the upcoming World Cup in India, which is expected to end months of uncertainty over telecast rights for football’s biggest tournament in the country.

According to sources, FIFA recently held meetings with executives from two major Indian broadcasters JioHotstar and Zee Network as the governing body looks to secure a partner for the Indian market. Zee, which has been preparing a return to sports broadcasting, has now emerged as a strong contender in the race.

Jio, which held the rights for the 2022 World Cup, is reportedly standing firm on a valuation of around $20 million. Meanwhile, Zee’s late entry into the bidding process has strengthened its position, especially after Sony and FanCode opted out of the race.

Deal Expected Around $35 Million

FIFA had initially set a price tag of nearly $100 million for the combined 2026 and 2030 World Cup broadcast rights. However, due to limited market interest, the governing body has significantly lowered its expectations to around $35 million. The final agreement is expected to be close to this figure and will cover both the 2026 and 2030 men’s World Cups.

A source indicated that an official announcement could be made as early as next week, once the contract is formally signed.

CCTV Deal Secured in China

Recently, FIFA also confirmed a separate broadcast deal with China’s state broadcaster CCTV, ensuring coverage of its flagship tournaments in the Chinese market. That agreement includes the 2026 and 2030 men’s World Cups, as well as the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups. India remains one of the last major markets where broadcast rights are yet to be finalised.

Scheduling Challenge for India

One of the key challenges for broadcasters in India will be match timings. Out of 104 matches scheduled across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, nearly 90% are expected to be played between midnight and 6 AM Indian time. This creates a difficult slot for advertisers, especially since India will not feature in the tournament.

Previous Deal and Viewership Records

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, broadcast rights were reportedly sold for around ₹480 crore (approximately $60 million). Lionel Messi’s Argentina went on to win the tournament.

However, broadcasters struggled to recover even half of their investment through advertising revenue, making FIFA’s earlier pricing less attractive for this cycle.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Despite record-breaking global viewership in 2022, the tournament will not be broadcast live in India until the rights deal is finalised.