India's T20I series against Ireland in Belfast will begin at 1:30 pm local time to avoid overlapping with the crucial India vs Australia Women's World Cup match. The series could mark the international debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the India captaincy debut of Shreyas Iyer.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, features 48 teams for the first time. Indian viewers face early morning/late night match timings (IST: 12:30 AM - 7:30 AM, with some at 10:30 PM). Broadcast rights in India are pending, with Doordarshan and JioHotstar in contention.
Millions in Asia, including India, China, and Thailand, face uncertainty over watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to delayed broadcast rights. Unfavorable late-night match timings and high costs are stalling deals, potentially impacting viewership. Experts, however, believe agreements will be reached, ensuring widespread access to the global football spectacle.
India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have no official broadcaster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with less than two months to go. The 48-team tournament across USA, Canada and Mexico begins June 11. FIFA slashed asking price from $100 million to $35 million for India rights but no buyers emerged. Key barriers include unfavorable match timings (12:30 am IST for most games), cricket dominance in advertising, and a strong US dollar. Industry experts say FIFA is not financially impacted as broadcast rights represent less than 1% of their $3.9 billion projected revenue.
Six countries including India and China lack an official broadcaster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with less than two months until the tournament begins. FIFA slashed its asking price for Indian media rights from $100 million to $35 million but no buyers emerged. The primary barrier is unfavourable match timings, with only 14 of 104 matches starting before midnight in India, and the opening fixture at 12:30 am IST. The IPL concluding just two weeks before the World Cup and cricket's dominance of advertising spend have also deterred buyers. While FIFA's $3.9 billion broadcast revenue target won't be significantly affected, the lack of reach concerns long-term market development.
