Will Indians watch FIFA World Cup 2026 for free? Delhi HC issues notice to Doordarshan

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now just weeks away, uncertainty continues over how Indian viewers will watch the tournament.

The matter has reached the Delhi High Court after a petition sought directions to ensure the World Cup is telecast across India through platforms such as Doordarshan and DD Sports.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav on Monday issued notices to the Centre and Prasar Bharati while hearing a writ petition filed by advocate Avdhesh Bairwa under Article 226 of the Constitution. The plea argued that despite the tournament beginning on June 11 and running until July 19, no broadcaster has yet officially secured the Indian media rights, creating major uncertainty for football fans across the country.

The petition emphasised that the FIFA World Cup has already been designated a “sporting event of national importance” under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007. According to the petitioner, that classification creates an obligation to make the tournament accessible to the public through free-to-air broadcasting services.

The issue has become particularly significant because of India’s rapidly expanding football audience. Although India did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the country reportedly emerged as one of FIFA’s biggest engagement markets during the tournament. The plea also highlighted that Prasar Bharati already possesses the infrastructure required to air the World Cup through DD Sports, DD Free Dish and its WAVES OTT platform.

The petitioner further argued that failure to provide public access to the tournament could violate constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21, including the right to information through public broadcasting networks.

WHY FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 RIGHTS REMAIN UNSOLD IN INDIA
The uncertainty surrounding the broadcast is largely linked to the ongoing commercial standoff over media rights fees.

According to reports referenced in the petition, FIFA initially valued the India rights package for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups at close to USD 100 million. However, after limited interest from broadcasters, the asking price was reportedly reduced to around USD 35 million. Despite that reduction, no agreement has been finalised yet.

The tournament’s scheduling has also complicated negotiations. Since the World Cup will be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, most matches are expected to take place late at night or during early morning hours in India. Broadcasters remain cautious because such timings could affect television ratings and advertising revenue.

The Indian sports broadcasting market has also changed significantly over recent years, with networks increasingly prioritising cricket properties while becoming more selective about expensive non-cricket rights deals. That has contributed to the unusual situation of the World Cup still lacking an official Indian broadcaster less than a month before kickoff.

WILL INDIAN FANS MISS THE FIFA WORLD CUP?
Despite the uncertainty, All India Football Federation officials remain hopeful that a solution will eventually be reached.

AIFF Deputy General Secretary M Satyanarayan recently stated that India’s massive football audience makes it extremely difficult for FIFA or broadcasters to ignore the market entirely. At the same time, the federation clarified that it has no direct role in commercial rights negotiations and can only oversee football administration within the country.

The AIFF also pointed out that Indian supporters formed one of the largest travelling fan groups among non-qualified nations during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, reflecting the growing popularity of football in the country.

For now, however, fans are still waiting for clarity. With the opening match drawing closer, the window for promotion, scheduling and broadcast preparations is shrinking rapidly. Even so, there remains confidence within Indian football circles that FIFA and broadcasters will eventually strike a deal rather than leave one of the world’s largest sports markets without access to the tournament.