Bangladesh Government in Final Talks with FIFA to Broadcast 2026 World Cup on BTV

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The Bangladeshi government is nearing a final agreement with FIFA to secure the broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup, a move expected to ensure nationwide coverage of the tournament on state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV). While officials have refrained from making a formal announcement, sources within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that negotiations are in the advanced stages.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zohir Uddin Swapon stated that the government is actively engaged in discussions to facilitate public access to the matches while remaining fiscally responsible. The push for a direct agreement follows the collapse of negotiations with Singapore-based Springbok Pte Ltd, which had initially held the regional rights and sought approximately 151 crore taka—rising to nearly 200 crore taka including taxes—for the sub-licensing. After failing to finalize a deal with local broadcasters, the firm ultimately relinquished its rights, clearing the path for the government to approach FIFA directly.

According to ministry officials, the strategy focuses on securing broadcasting rights without placing an undue burden on public funds. High-level representatives from the Ministry of Information, the Bangladesh Football Federation, and BTV are involved in the ongoing talks, with a final decision anticipated within the next few days. Once secured, BTV would hold the primary rights, potentially sub-licensing access to private entities.

The broadcasting landscape for the tournament is also evolving in the digital space. The OTT platform Toffee, operated by Banglalink, has confirmed it has secured the digital broadcasting rights for the event, ensuring that football fans across the country will have multiple avenues to follow the matches.

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The uncertainty surrounding broadcasting rights had been a point of concern for major markets beyond Bangladesh, including India and China. However, FIFA has recently resolved similar issues in those regions by finalizing deals with the China Media Group and India’s Zee Entertainment.

This latest development marks a return to direct negotiations for the Bangladeshi government following a significant shift in policy. In 2018, BTV broadcast the tournament under a package policy that involved no direct cost. However, that policy was abolished by 2022, forcing the government to allocate a special budget of 98 crore taka at the eleventh hour to ensure fans could watch the games. As the 2026 tournament approaches its June 12 opening, the government’s current efforts aim to provide a more sustainable model for delivering the global spectacle to the Bangladeshi audience.