Watching the World Cup is a fundamental right? — Delhi HC asks Centre’s stand on plea for broadcast

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the stand of the Center and Prasar Bharti on a petition seeking telecast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will begin on June 11.

Avdhesh Bairwa, a lawyer, sought directions from the central government to acquire the telecast rights for the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final in favor of Prasar Bharti as an interim measure. As a final solution, the petitioner prayed that the rights for all 104 matches would be acquired.

Justice Purushaiindra Kumar Kaurav published the petition and posted it for hearing on May 20.

«Issue notice. Let him (the defendant’s lawyer) take instructions. Let the matter be listed next week,» the judge said.

During the hearing, the court asked the petitioner why his plea should not be treated as a public interest litigation.

The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that a citizen has a right to access such broadcast. He added that while it was not an indefensible or absolute right, a «nudge» from the court «would go a long way.»

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In the petition, the petitioner states that the FIFA World Cup, held every four years, is one of the most watched sporting events in the world and historically the event has had a commercial broadcaster in India for every edition since 1998.

However, no broadcaster has acquired the broadcasting rights for the tournament in India this year, depriving him of his fundamental right to receive information and access the telecast of the event, the plea said.

«This matter is of utmost importance as the 2026 FIFA World Cup will commence on June 11, 2026 and the opening match, which in itself is an event of national importance as per (Centre’s) notification dated May 09, 2022, is scheduled on that date. That without timely judicial intervention by this Hon’ble Court, the petitioner and millions of Indian citizens will be irreparably deprived of their fundamental rights without an adequate alternative remedy,» the petition said.

“The inaction of the respondents has resulted in the violation of the petitioner’s freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution by restricting the exhibition/telecast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“It is important to note that by denying access to the information in question or by not taking the necessary steps to broadcast the Football World Cup, the respondents have directly infringed on the petitioner’s fundamental right to obtain and receive information, which is an integral part of the freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution,” it added.

The FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Published on May 12, 2026