Uncertainty over FIFA WC broadcast in Bangladesh

Football fans in Bangladesh face uncertainty over watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup (WC), with no local broadcaster yet securing the rights to telecast the tournament.

With the World Cup set to begin on June 11, 2026 across the USA, Canada and Mexico, major media houses in Bangladesh have not confirmed any deal with FIFA for the broadcasting rights.

The delay has raised concerns that millions of fans may be left without legal access to the 104-match event.

FIFA opened the bidding process for South Asia in July 2025, initially quoting $100 million for the region. The price was later reduced to around $35 million, but sources say no Bangladeshi channel or streaming platform has come forward so far.

The situation mirrors that in India and several other South Asian countries, where broadcasters have stayed away due to high costs and cautious advertising markets. In 2022, Viacom18 paid $62 million for the Qatar World Cup rights in India.

“The merger of major media groups and a slow ad market have made broadcasters reluctant to invest this time,” said a media industry insider on condition of anonymity.