The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Central Government and Prasar Bharti following a petition that raises concerns over the lack of a dedicated broadcaster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 in India.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav presided over the hearing, seeking a formal response from the authorities on why broadcasting rights have not yet been secured for the tournament, which is set to kick off on June 11. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for May 20 to receive further instructions on the matter.
The petition, filed by lawyer Avdhesh Bairwa, argues that the inability of a broadcaster to secure rights for the prestigious event is a violation of a citizen’s fundamental right to receive information. Under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, the plea asserts that the public’s access to such global sporting events is an integral part of freedom of speech and expression.
Historically, the FIFA World Cup has been broadcast in India by commercial entities for every edition since 1998. However, with the 2026 tournament fast approaching—hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico—the petitioner noted that no broadcaster has yet stepped forward to acquire the rights.
The petitioner is seeking an interim measure directing the central government to acquire broadcasting rights for the tournament’s most critical stages, including the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, in favor of the national broadcaster, Prasar Bharti. The final relief sought in the petition is for the government to ensure the telecast of all 104 matches of the tournament.
“The matter is one of utmost urgency,” the petition stated, noting that the opening match is already categorized as an event of “national importance” under a government notification dated May 9, 2022. Without judicial intervention, Bairwa argues that millions of Indian citizens will be “irreparably deprived” of their rights without an alternative remedy.
During the proceedings, the court questioned whether the plea should be treated as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) rather than an individual petition. In response, the senior counsel for the petitioner argued that while the right to access such a telecast may not be absolute, a “nudge” from the court is necessary to ensure the event remains accessible to the public.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. With the next court date set for May 20, football fans across the country will be watching closely to see if the government or Prasar Bharti will take action to secure the telecast.
