The Bangladesh government is in the final stages of negotiations with FIFA to broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup live on the state-owned channel BTV. If the agreement is finalized, BTV will air the matches, significantly reducing the uncertainty about watching the FIFA World Cup in Bangladesh.
Sources from the Information Ministry and BTV confirmed the development to Prothom Alo. However, no one involved has officially commented on the matter. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahiduzzaman Swapan told Prothom Alo that discussions with all parties to provide the games to the public without spending public money are progressing satisfactorily.
The Singapore-based company Springbok Pte Ltd initially held the broadcasting rights for the World Cup in Bangladesh. However, the company could not sell the rights and eventually relinquished them. Subsequently, the Bangladesh government began direct negotiations with FIFA for the broadcasting rights.
High-level officials from the Information Ministry, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), and BTV are involved in these negotiations. A source from the Information Ministry told Prothom Alo that viewers are expected to be able to watch the games. If the negotiations are finalized, BTV will acquire the broadcasting rights for the World Cup. Private entities that wish to broadcast the games will obtain the rights from BTV. The negotiations are expected to conclude within the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, the OTT platform T Sports will also broadcast the games live. The platform informed Prothom Alo that Banglalink and T Sports have acquired the digital broadcasting rights for the World Cup. Football fans across Banglalink can watch the games on T Sports.
