FIFA Finally Seals World Cup Broadcast Deal in China at Just $60M
The deal ends weeks of negotiation and gives CMG rights to the next two men’s World Cups and two Women’s World Cups.
- After weeks of negotiation, China Media Group reached a broadcasting agreement with FIFA on Friday, securing exclusive rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup across all platforms including free-to-air television, pay-TV, internet and mobile devices.
- Negotiations dragged on despite FIFA concluding agreements in more than 175 other territories, with time zones and cost expectations cited as stumbling blocks; secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and director of media rights Jean-Christophe Petit travelled to Beijing this week to finalize the deal.
- According to China's state-backed outlet The Paper, the 2026 broadcasting rights alone cost $60 million, reflecting FIFA's assessment that China holds roughly 200 million football fans. News of the deal spread rapidly on Weibo, accumulating more than 27 million views within 45 minutes.
- CMG will distribute the tournament across multiple platforms, building on its 2022 pattern of sublicensing to Migu, Douyin and regional TV stations, as the agreement ends the standoff over China's broadcasting rights.
- While China's deal resolves negotiations there, India remains without broadcasting rights weeks before tournament kickoff. The Delhi High Court asked the Centre and Prasar Bharati on Tuesday to respond to a petition seeking Doordarshan coverage, leaving 22.6 percent of the global audience that watched Qatar without an official 2026 broadcaster.
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Official Agreement Between FIFA and China Guarantees One Billion Viewers for the 2026 World Cup
In a move that reflects the growing importance of the Chinese market for global football, FIFA announced the signing of a new broadcasting agreement with China Media Group to transmit Men’s and Women’s World Cup tournaments within China until 2031. Under the agreement, as stated on the official FIFA website, China Media Group will broadcast the 2026 and 2030 Men’s World Cup matches, along with the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cup editions, giving…
Associated Press News
FIFA finally seals World Cup broadcast deal in China at just $60M
FIFA has finally sealed a World Cup broadcast rights deal for China. It has come just 27 days before the opening game of 104 being played across North America and at a much lower reported price than the soccer body wanted.
FIFA Strikes CCTV Deal to End China's 2026 World Cup Blackout
CCTV has secured a multi-year FIFA deal covering the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, ending China's broadcast blackout. CMG will pay $60 million for 2026 rights after FIFA originally sought a nine-figure fee. India remains the only major market without a deal.
China Media Group (CMG) will be the official broadcaster of the FIFA World Cups until 2031 in the Asian giant, promoting national football and connecting with the young audience.
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