With the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony set for June 11 in Mexico City, football fans in the world's two most populous nations—China and India—are facing an unusual last-minute broadcast limbo.

Typically, TV rights for an event of this magnitude are locked down months or even years in advance. But with just weeks to go, broadcasters in both countries are still haggling with FIFA over the cost of airing the games. Local media reports indicate the sticking point is the price tag, with FIFA confirming that talks in China and India "are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage."

This uncertainty affects a staggering number of fans—China and India together account for roughly one-third of the global population. While FIFA has completed deals with 180 territories so far, these two key markets remain unsigned.

In China, the situation is particularly tense. FIFA's initial offer to state broadcaster CCTV was reportedly as high as $300 million. According to the state-controlled Beijing Daily, that price has since been lowered to between $120 million and $150 million—still more than double CCTV's budget for the event. The paper also noted that China's failure to qualify for the tournament, combined with the significant time difference to North America (meaning many high-profile matches will air in the early hours), has dampened domestic interest.

This marks a sharp contrast to recent World Cups. FIFA announced a deal with CCTV for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments back in November 2017—years ahead of kickoff.

Across the border in India, the picture is slightly more optimistic. While no agreement has been finalized yet, local media reported this week that a deal is likely to be announced soon. For now, millions of fans in both nations are left waiting, hoping the beautiful game will find its way to their screens.