State-run television channel BTV is poised to secure Bangladesh’s broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the final decision expected to be made today.

‘We are very near to finalising the deal [of broadcast rights with FIFA], hopefully, tomorrow [today],’ Mahbubul Alam, director general of Bangladesh Television, told New Age on Tuesday. 

However, when he was asked about FIFA’s asking price and details of the broadcast rights, Alam refrained from making any comments: ‘Right now, I can’t share more than that. Hope, tomorrow [today] you will get the news [details] on it.’ 

The Singapore-based company Springbok Pte Ltd initially secured the broadcasting rights but later relinquished their deal in May, which put the telecast of the World Cup matches in South Asian countries at risk.

Following their exit, BTV took advantage of the situation to negotiate with FIFA for the rights at a lower price.

However, FIFA confirmed broadcast rights agreements with Zee Entertainment Enterprises on Monday for streaming the 2026 and 2030 World Cups in India. 

FIFA confirmed an agreement with China Media Group for the broadcast in China of all matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030, as reported by FIFA on May 15.

CMG also earned the broadcast rights for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 and 2031 in China, another football-mad country of Asia. 

The biggest world football extravaganza, with 104 matches, will be held across three countries – the USA, Canada and Mexico – from June 11 to July 19, with the participation of 48 countries.