THE uncertainty over the broadcasting of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Malaysia is almost resolved.
This, after a private company came forward to bear the high cost of broadcasting rights that the government had previously failed to bear.
The tournament, which will open on June 11, was earlier facing uncertainty when the government was unable to cover the cost of broadcasting rights, which is estimated to be about RM200 million.
However, the situation now looks positive as it is almost certain the private company will agree to the amount set by FIFA, giving Malaysians the opportunity to officially watch the prestigious tournament.
It is understood that Telekom Malaysia is most likely the company in question, and the move is seen as a 'life-saver' for local football fans who were previously worried about missing out on the action.
This development is expected to bring great relief to fans, in addition to reviving the excitement of the 'World Cup fever' throughout the country ahead of the kick-off this June.
Earlier, the issue of live broadcasts of World Cup matches in this country became a questionable topic when there was no official broadcaster, with time running out.
For a long time, World Cup coverage in Malaysia has traditionally been organised through a combination of public broadcasters, satellite television providers, corporate sponsors and in some cases, popular food and beverage outlets.
Radio Televisyen Malaysia, the country’s public broadcaster, broadcast 41 of the 67 FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free in 2018.
Astro, Malaysia’s leading pay television broadcaster, has consistently held the rights to broadcast all 64 World Cup matches in 2010, 2018 and 2022.
Meanwhile, companies such as Maxis and AirAsia have previously acted as corporate sponsors for RTM’s free-to-air match coverage in 2018.
Iconic beverage company Coca-Cola has also contributed to the organisation of events such as the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, which brought the prestigious football trophy to Malaysia in 2010, 2014 and on 21 January this year at Sunway Pyramid.
It is understood that Malaysia has the potential to lose between RM70 million and RM180 million in direct economic activity if it fails to secure the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The broadcast of the prestigious tournament is capable of bringing in an economic spillover of RM200 million to RM300 million. – April 16, 2026
Mohd Fariq
Kuala Lumpur
The observations reflect the writer's personal insights and do not necessarily represent the official stance of The Vibes.com
