South Asia's World Cup deals land at the last minute

The region's broadcasters signed in the final weeks before kickoff, ending months of uncertainty for hundreds of millions of potential viewers.

NewsUpdated 5 June 20262 min read
SOUTH ASIA LATE DEALS SIGNED

For months, fans across South Asia had no confirmed way to watch the World Cup. That resolved in a rush of last minute deals: Zee holds Indian rights across TV and the Zee5 platform, Pakistan's coverage runs through PTV Sports and the Tapmad streaming service, and Bangladesh landed a multi broadcaster arrangement spanning BTV, Somoy TV and T Sports, with streaming on Toffee.

The late timing follows a familiar regional pattern, rights negotiations in South Asia routinely go to the wire, but it left fans guessing far longer than usual this cycle. Coverage levels vary: state broadcasters carry selected matches free in Pakistan and Bangladesh, while full match access generally sits on the paid streaming tiers.

Where each market stands, including which parts are free, is tracked on our full broadcasters list, which we update as sublicensing details firm up.