KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia risks missing out on live access to the FIFA World Cup 2026, as a staggering RM200 million price tag for broadcasting rights threatens to put the tournament beyond the reach of local broadcasters and, ultimately, the football fans.
FIFA is understood to have set the fee at around RM200 million for the upcoming edition in June, a figure widely viewed as excessive given current economic pressures. Despite prolonged negotiations and delays, there has reportedly been little movement on pricing as of the end of last year.
The governing body has defended the valuation, pointing to the expanded format of the 2026 tournament, which will feature 48 teams instead of 32, and a total of 104 matches across three host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, the financial realities facing Malaysia’s broadcasting landscape paint a far less optimistic picture. Astro Malaysia Holdings, the country’s main pay-TV provider, recently reported a near 50% drop in net profit to approximately RM63 million for the 2026 financial year, with revenue declining to around RM2.8 billion compared to the previous year.
While there has been modest growth in advertising and digital segments, rising operating costs and continued investment in streaming platforms have significantly eroded margins. In such a climate, committing RM200 million for World Cup rights appears commercially risky, with no clear guarantee of a meaningful return on investment.
Notably, there has so far been no visible promotional build-up on Astro’s sports channels, a stark contrast to previous World Cup cycles, where extensive marketing campaigns typically generated early excitement among fans months before kick-off. The silence has only fuelled speculation that a deal may still be out of reach.
It is also understood that in past editions, Astro secured FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights for a significantly lower sum, reportedly in the region of RM20 million to RM40 million, highlighting the sharp escalation in costs this time around.
Questions are also being raised over the role of national broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).
Historically, RTM has aired only selected World Cup matches rather than providing full tournament coverage, and as a government-linked entity, it would be difficult to justify spending RM200 million on a single event amid rising living costs and competing national priorities.
With the tournament scheduled for June, the window to secure sponsorships and partnerships is rapidly closing. Even with potential discounts amounting to tens of millions of ringgit, the remaining financial burden remains substantial. The key question remains: who is willing to invest such a large sum at short notice without assured returns?
Adding to the concern, Malaysia is not alone in facing this dilemma. India — the world’s most populous nation with an estimated 1.47 billion people is reportedly in a similar position, with no official broadcaster confirmed thus far for both the 2026 and 2030 World Cup editions.
This has sparked widespread discussion among fans on social media, many of whom are questioning whether they will be able to watch the tournament at all.
From a commercial standpoint, Astro and RTM may instead prioritise events with stronger national relevance, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya. These competitions feature Malaysian athletes and are likely to generate greater national interest and commercial value.
In the broader context, FIFA’s pricing strategy is increasingly seen as misaligned with current economic realities, forcing Malaysia and its corporate stakeholders to weigh carefully whether investing in the World Cup remains a viable — or justifiable — decision.
Scoop has reached out to Astro and RTM for comment on the World Cup broadcasting matter. – April 10, 2026