FIFA’s India Streaming Stalemate

Weeks before FIFA World Cup 2026 begins, India still has no streaming partner as soaring rights costs and weak monetisation make football a risky bet

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on June 11. But barely days before the tournament kicks off, Indian fans still do not know where to watch football’s biggest event. The problem statement is the delay in closing the broadcast deal due to a wide gap between the high prices FIFA wants and what Indian broadcasters are willing to pay. 

This means a whole swathe of India that consumes live sports on digital media and OTT platforms could be left in the dark when the first match kicks off. 

Imperative to mention that FIFA initially sought bids for a combined 2026 and 2030 package, but later rationalised its expectations due to a dearth of bidders. JioHotstar, SonyLIV and Fancode are the three primary........

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