China’s state broadcaster CCTV has officially secured the rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2026 and 2030, ending weeks of uncertainty among football fans across the country.
The agreement, announced jointly by FIFA and China Media Group (CMG), also includes broadcasting rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on June 11 with an opening match between South Africa and Mexico.
Under the deal, CCTV and its parent company, CMG, will provide coverage of the tournaments across television, internet, and mobile platforms.
The upcoming World Cup will be the largest in FIFA history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. Interest in the tournament remains extremely high in China despite the national team failing to qualify for the competition.
According to FIFA data from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, China accounted for nearly half of all viewing hours on digital and social media platforms worldwide, reflecting the country’s massive football audience.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom described the Chinese market as highly important to global football, adding that the partnership would help expand digital coverage and attract younger viewers.
For weeks, discussions surrounding the broadcasting rights had sparked debate on Chinese social media, with reports suggesting the deal could cost between $60 million and $150 million.
While some fans praised the agreement and described it as a major achievement, others questioned whether such spending was necessary.
Neither CCTV nor FIFA disclosed the official value of the contract or explained why negotiations were concluded so close to the start of the tournament.
Reports indicate that China Media Group is expected to unveil more details regarding its World Cup coverage and distribution plans during an upcoming launch event.
Football fans in major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai will have to stay up late to follow the action, with both the opening match and final scheduled to kick off at around 3:00 a.m. local time.
