However, two of the world's biggest markets, India and China, both with populations exceeding a billion, remain stuck in a deadlock over television and streaming rights for football's biggest tournament. Why is FIFA still unable to find a broadcaster in India? What options are currently available? With the World Cup now less than a month away from kicking off on June 12, can Indian fans ultimately rely on Doordarshan for coverage this time? And what exactly is the major issue behind this entire situation? Read everything you need to know below.

Why Has FIFA Still Not Finalized a Broadcaster in India?

The uncertainty around FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting rights in India reportedly started after Reliance-Disney made the first major move in negotiations with FIFA.

According to Reuters, the Reliance-backed network offered around $20 million for the tournament's media rights in India. Sony also explored the possibility of entering the race, but eventually stepped away without making an official bid, leaving Reliance-Disney as the main broadcaster in talks with FIFA.

Why Did FIFA Reject JioHotstar Deal?

However, the deal hit a roadblock because FIFA was not satisfied with the amount being offered. Reports suggest FIFA initially wanted close to $100 million for the combined 2026 and 2030 World Cup rights package before lowering its expectations later during negotiations.

Reportedly, FIFA slashed its initial $100 million demand to around $35 million for both tournaments. Even then, no private broadcasters emerged to offer a deal.

Reliance-Disney (JioHotstar), meanwhile, reportedly felt the tournament would not deliver the same level of viewership in India because the World Cup is being hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, meaning many matches would begin late at night or after midnight for Indian audiences.

Also, the fact that football still does not bring the same advertising pull in India as their mainstream sport cricket, makes broadcasters cautious about spending heavily on the rights.

Therefore, one of the biggest reasons behind FIFA's struggle to finalize a broadcaster in India is the financial gap between what FIFA expects and what Indian networks believe the tournament is worth in the current market.

Now, with the clock ticking down to the June 12 kickoff, questions grow over alternative platforms for Indian fans, focusing on the state-owned Doordarshan (DD) and the niche streaming giant FanCode.

Can Doordarshan Broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India?

Historically, Doordarshan has served as a safety net for major sporting events under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, which requires private rights holders to share feeds of "events of national importance" with the public broadcaster.

However, since India are not competing in the World Cup, experts believe the tournament does not automatically qualify under this mandate. However, on May 12, 2026, the Delhi High Court issued an official notice to the Central Government and Prasar Bharati following a petition aimed at protecting the rights of Indian football fans, terming the tournament as "Sporting Event of National Importance."

Because no private broadcaster has stepped up to pay FIFA's asking price (which dropped from $100 million to roughly $35 million), the court is now exploring whether the government must step in to ensure the tournament doesn't go dark in India. The single bench justice, Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, has scheduled the next hearing for next week.

What is India's Last-Minute Option For FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Streaming?

Simultaneously, FanCode has emerged as a dark-horse candidate for digital-only rights. Having successfully carved out a market for long-tail sports and international football leagues by offering flexible, low-cost match passes, FanCode represents a modern solution for FIFA's deadlock.

Industry experts suggest that if Reliance-Disney remains unwilling to bridge the valuation gap, FIFA could pivot to a split-rights model, allowing FanCode to cater to the hardcore digital audience while potentially leaning on its own platform, FIFA+, to stream matches directly to viewers worldwide.