Nation Thailand
Thailand left as sole ASEAN-region holdout after 10 neighbours secure 2026 World Cup rights
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Thailand remains the only country in Southeast Asia without confirmed broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even as 10 neighbouring countries have already secured media partners for the tournament.
Key facts
- The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11 and run until July 19, with the United States, Mexico and Canada jointly hosting the expanded 48-team tournament across 104 matches
- JAS had reportedly sought a fee close to the amount paid by Vietnam, estimated at around US$15 million, but FIFA was said to be holding firm at around US$40 million, or more than 1.3 billion baht, for the Thai market.
- According to FIFA’s media partner information, the 10 Southeast Asian countries with confirmed 2026 World Cup broadcast rights are
- The lack of a confirmed deal means Thailand has yet to settle key questions over the 2026 World Cup broadcast plan, including whether matches would be shown on free-to-air television, pay TV, streaming platforms, or a mix of services.
Summary
The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11 and run until July 19, with the United States, Mexico and Canada jointly hosting the expanded 48-team tournament across 104 matches. FIFA earlier said the tournament would be staged across 16 host cities in North America.
In Thailand, Jasmine International Plc, or JAS, has been in last-minute negotiations with FIFA to acquire the domestic broadcast rights.