Petition for FIFA World Cup Broadcast Rights Lands in Delhi High Court

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking the broadcast rights of FIFA World Cup 2026 on Prasar Bharti. The petitioner advocates for government intervention to ensure telecast access for the opening match, key finals, and all 104 games, citing the public's fundamental information rights.

The Delhi High Court is assessing a petition demanding that the Centre and Prasar Bharti secure broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Scheduled to begin on June 11, the football extravaganza is globally renowned and heavily watched.

Filed by lawyer Avdhesh Bairwa, the petition calls for interim measures allowing Prasar Bharti to air the opening game, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. As a ultimate remedy, the plea seeks rights to all 104 matches, arguing that this ensures citizens' right to accessible information.

During initial hearings, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked why the plea shouldn't be a public interest litigation. The senior counsel, representing the petitioner, asserted that while not absolute, the right to telecast access deserves judicial advocacy. The matter returns for a scheduled hearing on May 20.