FIFA finally sealed a deal for the broadcast rights to the World Cup on Friday, just 27 days before the opening match and at a much lower reported price than the football body wanted.
The overall agreement with China Media Group covered the next four World Cups – two for each men and women – through 2031, FIFA said in a statement. It includes the 48-team, 104-match men’s tournament in North America starting June 11, for which China failed to qualify.
Chinese state media reported on Friday that the rights to the 2026 World Cup were valued at $60 million.
FIFA originally demanded $300 million, Chinese media reported in recent weeks as the deadline for concluding a deal approached.
A rights deal for India has not yet been confirmed.
«It is a real pleasure that we have found an agreement with CMG,» FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said in the football body’s statement. He was in China this week, also for meetings with officials from the Chinese Football Federation.
FIFA’s influence in China was less due to the time difference of up to 15 hours between Beijing and the 16 host cities spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Chinese companies have already made a major investment in the 2026 World Cup, which will earn FIFA more than $11 billion.
Technology company Lenovo is one of FIFA’s eight top sponsorship partners, and second-tier deals have been signed by dairy company Mengniu and electronics manufacturer Hisense.
Chinese conglomerate Wanda signed a long-term deal with FIFA in 2016, which was terminated two years ago.
The value of the TV rights was not disclosed for the 2030 World Cup, which could one day be hosted by China and which Wanda said was part of the strategy with FIFA. The country’s ambitions to host international football competitions stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2030 men’s tournament will largely take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with some matches currently scheduled to be played in Argentina, Paraguay and the original 1930 World Cup host nation, Uruguay.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be played in Brazil and the 2031 World Cup mainly in the United States, along with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica.
That hosting decision without a rival candidate is due to the confirmation in November by the FIFA member federations.
Published on May 16, 2026
