With barely weeks left for the FIFA World Cup 2026 - scheduled to be held across the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 - India remains the last major market without an official broadcaster. But that uncertainty now appears close to ending, with FIFA entering the final stages of negotiations for its India media rights deal.

As per an Indian Express report, FIFA recently held meetings with executives from JioHotstar and the Zee network, which is preparing to re-enter the sports broadcasting landscape. While JioHotstar, which broadcast the 2022 FIFA World Cup in India, is understood to have maintained its valuation at around $20 million, Zee has emerged as a serious contender after Sony and FanCode decided against joining the bidding war.

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According to sources, an official announcement is expected as early as next week once the agreement is formally signed.

The eventual deal is likely to be valued at around $35 million and will include the broadcasting rights for both the 2026 and 2030 men’s FIFA World Cups.

The development marks a significant climbdown from FIFA’s initial expectations. The global governing body had originally quoted nearly $100 million for the combined rights package covering the 2026 and 2030 editions. However, muted interest from broadcasters and concerns over commercial viability forced FIFA to sharply revise its valuation.

India has emerged as one of the toughest markets for FIFA to crack this cycle, despite football’s growing popularity in the country.

One major hurdle has been the scheduling of the tournament. Of the 104 matches set to be played across the USA, Canada and Mexico, close to 90 per cent are scheduled between midnight and 6 am IST - traditionally a difficult window for television advertising and digital monetisation, especially with India absent from the tournament.

That commercial concern has weighed heavily on broadcasters still recovering from the financial realities of the previous World Cup.

The 2022 edition in Qatar, where Lionel Messi’s Argentina won the trophy, was reportedly acquired for nearly Rs 480 crore ($60 million). Industry estimates suggest broadcasters struggled to recover even half of that investment through advertising revenues, making FIFA’s original asking price for the upcoming cycle commercially unrealistic.

Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now