Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has claimed that negotiations over the FIFA World Cup 2026 Indian broadcast rights have concluded, with an official announcement on the broadcasting partner expected in India next week. The development comes less than three weeks before the tournament kicks off on 12 June 2025 at 12:30 am IST across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

What Prabhakaran Said

Posting on X, Prabhakaran wrote: '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!'

Prabhakaran, who served as AIFF general secretary, is not a current rights holder or broadcaster, and his claim has not been independently confirmed by any broadcaster or by FIFA as of the time of publication.

The Broadcasting Rights Crisis

Until Prabhakaran's post, no broadcaster had publicly confirmed acquisition of the Indian media rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to reports, FIFA initially valued the Indian rights package at approximately USD 100 million as part of a combined deal that included the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Facing a weaker-than-expected market response, that figure was reportedly reduced to USD 35 million. A USD 20 million bid from JioStar was also reportedly rejected.

Delhi High Court Petition

The broadcast uncertainty prompted legal action. A petition filed by advocate Avdhesh Bairwa before the Delhi High Court sought a direction to broadcast all major tournament fixtures — from the opening match to the final, including quarterfinals and semifinals — on Doordarshan or DD Sports, ensuring free-to-air access for every Indian.

The matter came before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, during which Prasar Bharati told the court it was not responsible for securing the broadcasting rights. At the 19 May hearing, advocate Bairwa sought permission to withdraw the petition and the liberty to approach another court for appropriate relief.

India's Football Fandom at Stake

Submissions before the court highlighted that India holds the second-largest football fan base in the world. Despite not qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Indian fans generated nearly 745.7 million digital engagements with the tournament — a figure that underscores the commercial stakes of the current rights impasse.

This is not the first time Indian football fans have faced broadcast uncertainty ahead of a major FIFA event, but the scale of the 2026 edition — the first to feature 48 teams — has amplified public concern. With the tournament days away, all eyes are now on whether a formal announcement materialises as Prabhakaran has indicated.