India’s World Cup broadcast row has reached court just weeks before the tournament, raising fears that millions of fans may miss football’s biggest event.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sent notices to the Indian government and public broadcaster Prasar Bharti after a lawyer filed a petition seeking live telecast of the 2026 World Cup.
The case comes as FIFA’s broadcast rights demands have reportedly created a major gap between asking price and broadcaster offers. Local reports said FIFA wanted around $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, while JioStar has so far offered about $20 million.
With no final agreement yet, India remains without an official broadcaster less than a month before the tournament begins on June 11.
The petition argued that this failure would deny Indian citizens their “fundamental right to receive information”.
It also said India is now among the few major markets without confirmed World Cup coverage, despite the tournament being listed as a sporting event of national importance.
The petition warned that without urgent court action, millions of football fans across the country could lose access to the event with no proper alternative.
The next hearing is set for May 20.
The problem is not limited to India alone. China and Thailand also reportedly remain without confirmed broadcast deals, creating concerns that large parts of Asia could face limited access when the World Cup starts.
Broadcasters in the region have been careful with bids because many matches will take place late at night in Asia due to the tournament being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. That timing could hurt television ratings and advertising income.
India, home to 1.4 billion people, did not qualify for the World Cup. But football’s global showpiece still attracts huge interest across the country, making the broadcast uncertainty a growing concern for fans.
