FIFA WC 2026 Broadcast Uncertainty: SFI Writes to Union Ministers

New Delhi: The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), on Monday, wrote to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, raising concerns over the lack of a confirmed broadcaster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India.

In letters addressed to the Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the student organization called the situation a potential “World Cup blackout” for Indian football fans.

According to the letters, SFI argued that millions of viewers could lose access to the tournament if no broadcasting arrangement is confirmed before the competition begins on June 11. The organization particularly criticized the lack of provisions for free-to-air telecast plans through public broadcasters like Prasar Bharati and Doordarshan.

The letter stated that football has one of the fastest-growing fan bases in India, especially among the youth of the nation, and described access to major sporting events as a matter of public interest. The letters also referenced the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, arguing that landmark international sporting events should remain accessible to the wider public rather than being limited by private broadcasting deals.

SFI urged the Union Government to intervene immediately and secure a free-to-air telecast of the tournament on DD Sports. It also called for long-term policy measures to prevent similar uncertainty around future international sporting events. The issue has already reached the Delhi High Court, where demands for free-to-air coverage of the tournament have reportedly been raised in the public interest.

(This article is written by Rocheta Chakraborty, a student of The English and Foreign Languages University, who's currently interning at Deccan Chronicle.)