Millions of soccer fans in the world’s two most populous nations may not be able to watch the World Cup, which starts next month, because of a deadlock on broadcast rights in India and no official decision in China.
In India, the Reliance-Disney joint venture has offered US$20 million for the 2026 World Cup broadcast rights, a fraction of Fifa’s bid, which was rejected by soccer’s world governing body, two sources said on Monday.
Sony held talks but also decided not to make an offer for Fifa rights to India, a third source with direct knowledge said.
There has also been no announcement of a deal for China, which Fifa says accounted for 49.8 percent of all viewing hours on digital and social platforms worldwide during the 2022 World Cup.
Fifa did not respond to a request for comment. Reliance-Disney, the joint venture led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did Sony.
The lack of a confirmed broadcast agreement with India or China is unusual at this stage.
