Bangladesh Television Secures FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcast Rights for Tk 73 Crore

State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) is set to acquire the full media and broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 directly from FIFA, with the Bangladeshi government approving an expenditure of nearly Tk 73 crore for the deal.

The approval was granted on Sunday at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The proposal had earlier received policy approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

According to official sources, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initially presented the proposal for BTV to purchase the FIFA World Cup 2026 All Media Rights. Following policy approval, the proposal was submitted to the government procurement committee, which subsequently endorsed the expenditure.

The contract value for acquiring the broadcasting rights has been set at Tk 72.71 crore (Tk 72,70,57,692). The rights will be purchased directly from FIFA through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM).

The acquisition will allow football fans across Bangladesh to watch all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live through BTV's platforms.

Sources familiar with the matter said that broadcasting rights for major international sporting events are often purchased through third-party agencies or intermediaries at significantly higher costs. However, BTV has opted to secure the rights directly from FIFA, the sport’s global governing body.

By obtaining the All Media Rights package, BTV will gain the legal authority to broadcast matches not only through its satellite television channels but also via its terrestrial network, digital platforms, and over-the-top (OTT) streaming services.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled to begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19. For the first time in the tournament's history, 48 teams will participate, with a record 104 matches set to be played.

The opening match will take place at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New York.

With BTV securing the broadcasting rights, millions of football fans in Bangladesh will be able to watch every World Cup match live on television and mobile devices without additional subscription costs or complicated access requirements.