BTV secures 2026 FIFA World Cup media rights in Tk 72.71cr deal

The Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement has officially recommended that Bangladesh Television (BTV) acquire the comprehensive media broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

The state-run broadcaster will purchase the rights directly from football's global governing body, FIFA, for an estimated Tk 72.71 crore.

The decision was finalized during the committee’s 25th meeting of the year, held at the Parliament building with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. 

The proposal, submitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, follows a Direct Procurement Method (DPM) given that FIFA holds exclusive ownership of the tournament's commercial and media assets.

According to the official briefing, the total contract is valued at Tk 72,70,57,692. By securing "All Media Rights," BTV is authorized to broadcast matches and tournament content across its various platforms, providing millions of fans nationwide with free-to-air access to the global event.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be a historic edition as the first to expand the field to 48 competing nations.

Officials noted that the proposal had previously received the necessary policy-level clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. 

The procurement move ensures that the state broadcaster remains the primary destination for international sports in Bangladesh, bypassing third-party intermediaries to negotiate directly with the Zurich-based organization.