FROM $100 MILLION FOR two editions to $35m for one, and further down to… FIFA is facing some tough choices even as the countdown is on for the 2026 World Cup.
Its been a hard sell for football’s world governing body to close a media rights deal in the world’s most populous country for the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada).
As per the information available with SportzPower, FIFA had initially set an asking price of $100m for composite (linear TV and digital) media rights for two World Cups (the 2030 edition that will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco was also bundled in earlier).
ET, quoting officials who requested anonymity, reported that even after reducing the price to $35m (only for the 2026 World Cup as per SportzPower’s understanding), neither of the main contenders – JioStar and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) – were willing to “bite the bullet”.
What FIFA has before it, SportzPower has been told, is that while JioStar, the incumbent rights holder, has placed an offer in the $25m ballpark, SPNI has put in a bid in the region of $20m.
For the record, JioStar’s predecessor Viacom18 had, per ET, paid $62m in 2021 for rights to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Pertinently though, the Gulf monarchy is in an India friendly time zone, unlike the situation prevailing in North America.
SportzPower’s unsolicited advice: If push comes to shove, FIFA should prioritise showcasing its crown jewel to the country it has described as “football’s sleeping giant” over maximising revenues. Stream the World Cup on its digital platform FIFA+ for free and strike a deal with national sportscaster DD Sports with the aim to maximise reach and garner goodwill.
Some positive press after the enormous amounts of flak it has justifiably faced from fans and critics alike for its usurious ticket pricing for World Cup 2026 would be more than welcome. What say?
