It looks like the uncertainty over watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV in India is finally ending. Shaji Prabhakaran, the former General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has shared some big news.
Good news for football fans in India! The anxiety over the TV broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 seems to be clearing up. Shaji Prabhakaran, the former General Secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has dropped a major hint. He confirmed that negotiations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast rights in India are done, and a formal announcement is just around the corner. He has assured fans that the tournament will be easily and widely available for everyone to watch across the country.
In a post on ‘X’ (what we used to call Twitter), Prabhakaran wrote: “Huge news for Indian football fans! The wait is finally over. Discussions are complete, and an official announcement on the broadcast partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India is expected next week! After months of uncertainty, fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief; the World Cup will be fully accessible in India. Get ready for the biggest World Cup in history!”
Besides his role at AIFF, Prabhakaran is also the founder and president of the ‘Association for Sports Industry Professionals’ (ASIP). This organisation operates under the ‘Khel India Sports Foundation’ (KISF). ASIP is a non-profit that works to develop sports at the grassroots level and empower women in sports. Its main goal is to promote professional excellence and contribute to the overall growth of the sports industry.
There was recently a lot of concern about how accessible the 2026 FIFA World Cup coverage would be for Indian viewers. Earlier in May, the Delhi High Court had sent a notice to the Central Government and Prasar Bharati. This was in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to make sure the tournament is broadcast in India, especially on free-to-air channels like Doordarshan and DD Sports. The writ petition, filed by advocate Avadhesh Bairwa under Article 226 of the Constitution, was heard by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
The FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This is the first time the tournament will be held across 16 cities in three different countries. It will run for about a month and a half, with the final on July 19. And for the first time ever, 48 teams will compete, up from the usual 32.
Initially, FIFA had started the process to sell the broadcast rights for both the 2026 and 2030 World Cups in India. The starting price was set at a whopping $100 million, which is about ₹930 crore. However, no company showed interest. FIFA was then forced to drop the price to $35 million, but even that didn’t change the situation, leading to the recent uncertainty.