“Concerns over watching the World Cup, Bangladeshi viewers may be deprived”

Concerns have emerged over the availability of live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Bangladesh, raising uncertainty for football fans across the country. Football enjoys widespread popularity in Bangladesh, where the World Cup is traditionally followed with significant enthusiasm, including public screenings, national flags, and late-night viewing.

The next edition of the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on 11 June 2026, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will be the 23rd edition of the competition and will, for the first time, feature an expanded format of 48 teams.

However, questions remain over whether viewers in Bangladesh will be able to watch the matches live. The state broadcaster, Bangladesh Television (BTV), has not yet secured broadcasting rights for the 2026 tournament. No private television channels or over-the-top (OTT) digital platforms in the country have obtained the rights either.

Under FIFA regulations, international broadcasts cannot be shown in other countries without proper licensing. This means that unless a local broadcaster acquires the rights, live coverage of the tournament in Bangladesh may not be available.

According to available information, the broadcasting rights for Bangladesh have been assigned to Singapore-based Springbok PTE Ltd. As a result, Bangladeshi broadcasters would need to purchase rights from this intermediary in order to air the matches locally.

BTV has traditionally been the primary broadcaster of FIFA World Cup matches in Bangladesh. However, the high cost of rights has created uncertainty regarding coverage for the upcoming tournament. A source within BTV stated that Springbok PTE Ltd has set the rights fee at approximately BDT 151 crore. When taxes and additional expenses are included, the total cost could rise to around BDT 200 crore.

Under the proposed terms, 50 per cent of the payment must be made by 10 May, with the remaining amount due by 10 June. The package includes live coverage of 104 matches, along with the opening and closing ceremonies and highlight rights.

Given the financial scale involved, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reportedly advised BTV to engage directly with FIFA to explore the possibility of free-to-air broadcasting rights. BTV has sent two emails to FIFA regarding the matter, but no response has yet been received.

Broadcasting Overview

As matters stand, continued absence of a confirmed broadcaster could leave a significant number of viewers in Bangladesh without access to live coverage of the tournament.