KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) has welcomed the government’s decision to secure FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights, saying the move has eased earlier concerns within the mamak industry over losing access to one of its key sporting events.
Speaking to Scoop, Presma president Datuk Mohamed Mosin Abdul Razak said operators were initially worried when reports suggested Malaysia might miss out on broadcasting the tournament.
“We are very thankful that the government has stepped in and ensured the World Cup will be broadcast. When early reports came out that Malaysia might not secure the rights, there was real concern among our members,” he said.
“At that point, we were unsure what would happen, and there were worries that we could lose one of the most important sporting events for our industry.”
His response came after Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that Unifi TV, in collaboration with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), will broadcast the World Cup in Malaysia.
A RM24 million government allocation, supplemented by private sector partnerships, has been committed to ensure the tournament is accessible, legal and inclusive across platforms nationwide.
Mosin said the uncertainty had raised concerns within the sector, with operators fearing a disruption to a key business period linked to live sports screenings.
“There were discussions that if the World Cup was not broadcast at all, the impact on the industry would have been quite serious. Estimates we looked at suggested potential losses of between RM20 million and RM50 million,” he said.
He added that the resolution now allows operators to move forward with preparations ahead of the tournament.
“Now that it is confirmed, we are relieved. It allows our members to plan properly and continue as usual when the World Cup comes around,” he said.
This year’s World Cup will feature an expanded 48-team format, up from 32, with a total of 104 matches staged across three host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico — from June 11 to July 19. – May 8, 2026