FIFA World Cup 2026 TV Channels and Broadcasting Rights Worldwide
The FIFA World Cup 2026 TV channels now reach more than 200 territories worldwide. The biggest football tournament ever runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Forty-eight teams play 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament is now underway. Mexico opened play against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
Where to watch depends on the country. In the United States, FOX, FS1, Telemundo, and Universo carry all 104 matches. In the United Kingdom, BBC and ITV show every match free. In Canada, Bell Media holds the rights, and in Mexico, TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca air matches free. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka all confirmed broadcasters in the weeks before kickoff. The full country-by-country list appears in the table below.
This guide covers every confirmed broadcaster by country, including the late deals signed across South Asia and China.
Quick Facts: FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasting
- Tournament Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
- Teams and Matches: 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 host cities (11 in the US, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada)
- Confirmed Territories: More than 200
- United States: FOX and FS1 (English); Telemundo and Universo (Spanish)
- United Kingdom: BBC and ITV (free-to-air)
- India: Unite8 Sports (TV) and Zee5 (streaming)
- Bangladesh: BTV, Somoy TV, and T Sports (TV); Toffee and Bioscope+ (streaming)
- Pakistan: PTV Sports (TV) and Tapmad (streaming)
- Sri Lanka: SLT-Mobitel PEO TV
- Preferred Platforms: TikTok (January 8, 2026) and YouTube (March 17, 2026)
- FIFA Broadcast Revenue: About $3.92 billion across the rights cycle
- International Broadcast Centre: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas
Coverage now spans every major market worldwide. This page updates as new deals are confirmed. For a comparison of streaming services and free options, see the FIFA World Cup 2026 live stream guide.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasters by Country
The table below shows every confirmed broadcaster. Free means no subscription needed. Paid means a cable, satellite, or streaming subscription is required. Mixed means coverage splits between free and paid services.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) | Free or Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN | Paid |
| Albania | TV Klan | Free |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6 | Free |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports | Mixed |
| Armenia | AMPTV | Free |
| Australia | SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS On Demand | Free |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV | Mixed |
| Azerbaijan | İTV | Free |
| Bangladesh | BTV (free), Somoy TV, T Sports; Toffee, Bioscope+ (streaming) | Mixed |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF | Free |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel | Free |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Arena Sport | Paid |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT, N Sports | Mixed |
| Bulgaria | BNT | Free |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas | Free |
| Canada | Bell Media (TSN, RDS, CTV, Noovo, Crave) | Mixed |
| Chile | Chilevisión | Free |
| China | CMG (CCTV), Migu, Xiaohongshu (4K/8K) | Mixed |
| Colombia | Caracol TV, Canal RCN, Win Sports | Mixed |
| Costa Rica | Teletica | Free |
| Croatia | HRT | Free |
| Czechia | Czech Television | Free |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 | Mixed |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas | Free |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports | Mixed |
| Fiji | Fijian Broadcasting Corporation | Free |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 | Mixed |
| France | M6, beIN Sports | Mixed |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 | Mixed |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport | Mixed |
| Greece | ERT | Free |
| Guatemala | Chapín TV, Tigo Sports | Mixed |
| Honduras | Televicentro | Free |
| Hong Kong | Now TV (all 104, paid 4K), ViuTV (select matches incl. opener and Final, free) | Mixed |
| Hungary | MTVA | Free |
| Iceland | RÚV | Free |
| India | Unite8 Sports 1/2 (TV), Zee5 (streaming) | Paid |
| Indonesia | TVRI, RRI | Free |
| Iran | IRIB TV3, Persiana Sports | Free |
| Israel | KAN | Free |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN | Mixed |
| Japan | Dentsu (DAZN, NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV) | Mixed |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK | Free |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK | Free |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR | Free |
| Luxembourg | VRT, RTBF | Free |
| Macau | TDM | Free |
| Maldives | ICE Networks, Medianet | Paid |
| Malta | PBS | Free |
| MENA Region | beIN Sports | Paid |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca (32 free), ViX (all 104) | Mixed |
| Mongolia | MME | Free |
| Montenegro | Arena Sport, RTCG | Mixed |
| Nepal | Himalaya TV (Himalaya Sports), DGo app | Mixed |
| Netherlands | NOS | Free |
| New Zealand | TVNZ, TVNZ+ Event Pass | Mixed |
| Nicaragua | Televideo | Free |
| Niger | ORTN | Free |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport | Paid |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 | Mixed |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports (TV), Tapmad (streaming, all 104 HD) | Mixed |
| Panama | RPC, TVN, Tigo Sports | Mixed |
| Paraguay | Trece, Unicanal, GEN TV, Popu TV | Free |
| Peru | América Televisión | Free |
| Philippines | Aleph Group | Mixed |
| Poland | TVP | Free |
| Portugal | RTP, SIC, TVI (free); Sport TV, LiveModeTV (paid) | Mixed |
| Romania | Antena | Free |
| Russia | Match TV | Free |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN | Mixed |
| Serbia | RTS (free), Arena Sport (paid) | Mixed |
| Singapore | Mediacorp | Free |
| Slovakia | STVR, TV JOJ | Mixed |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO (free), Arena Sport (paid) | Mixed |
| South Africa | SABC, SuperSport, SportyTV | Mixed |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK | Mixed |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro, DAZN | Mixed |
| Sri Lanka | SLT-Mobitel PEO TV, PEO MOBILE (all 104 HD) | Paid |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport | Mixed |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 | Mixed |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR | Free |
| Taiwan | ELTA Sports, EBC, TTV, Hami Video | Mixed |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV, TV Football | Free |
| Timor-Leste | ETO | Free |
| Türkiye | TRT | Free |
| Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan Sport | Free |
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV | Free |
| United States | FOX, FS1, Telemundo, Universo | Mixed |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV | Free |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV | Free |
| Vatican City | RAI, DAZN | Mixed |
| Venezuela | Televen | Free |
| Vietnam | VTV (Vietnam Television) | Free |
| South America (regional) | DSports / DirecTV | Paid |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports | Paid |
| In-Flight & Cruise Ships | Sport24 | Bundled |
United States: World Cup 2026 Broadcasters
In the United States, FOX and FS1 carry all 104 matches in English, while Telemundo and Universo carry every match in Spanish. FOX and Telemundo are free over the air with an antenna.
FOX Sports holds the English rights. Telemundo holds the Spanish rights. Together they share all 104 matches across linear TV and streaming.
How Many Matches Air on Each Network
| Network | Language | Matches | Free or Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOX | English | 70 | Free over the air |
| FS1 | English | 34 | Cable required |
| Telemundo | Spanish | 92 | Free over the air |
| Universo | Spanish | 12 | Cable required |
| Tubi | English | 2 (plus opening ceremony) | Free, no account |
A record 40 matches air in primetime. FOX takes 21 of them and FS1 takes 19. Every knockout match starting July 4 airs on FOX. That includes all four Quarterfinals, both Semifinals, the third-place match, and the Final. Telemundo airs 700 hours of programming, the most ever for a Spanish-language World Cup.
Streaming Routes
FOX One streams all 104 English matches in 4K direct-to-consumer. Peacock streams all 104 in Spanish. The FOX Sports App and Telemundo App stream free with a cable login.
Live-TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling Blue carry the same FOX and FS1 broadcasts. The FIFA World Cup 2026 live stream guide compares prices and free trials across these services.
Free Viewing Without Cable
A digital antenna picks up 70 FOX matches plus 92 Telemundo matches over the air. Tubi streams two big matches free in 4K with no account: Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 and USA vs Paraguay on June 12. A one-time antenna purchase of $30 to $50 covers free FOX and Telemundo broadcasts for the entire tournament.
Canadian Broadcasting
Bell Media holds the exclusive Canadian rights to all 104 matches. In English, TSN is the exclusive home to every match, with select matches also airing free over the air on CTV. In French, RDS carries the full schedule, with select matches on Noovo. Coverage runs in HDR on select platforms.
Canadian streaming options:
- Crave: streams the live CTV channel, including the matches CTV carries
- TSN App and TSN+: full English coverage with a TSN subscription, and TSN+ adds exclusive multi-language feeds
- RDS App: full French coverage with a subscription
- DAZN Canada: does not hold World Cup rights
Canada hosts matches in Toronto and Vancouver. The Canadian men’s team opened against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, its third World Cup appearance after 1986 and 2022.
Mexican Broadcasting
TelevisaUnivisión and TV Azteca share the Mexican rights and simulcast the same 32 free-to-air matches. ViX Premium, through its paid “Pase Mundial” package, is the only way to watch all 104, carrying the other 72 matches exclusively.
Free coverage airs on Canal 5, Las Estrellas, and Nu9ve through Televisa, and on Azteca Uno and Azteca 7 through TV Azteca. The free package includes every Mexico national team group stage match, the opening match, selected knockout matches, both Semifinals, and the Final. The TV Azteca En Vivo app and ViX both stream coverage on mobile.
TV Azteca’s Spanish commentary is led by Christian Martinoli, Luis García, and Jorge Campos.
Mexico opened the tournament against South Africa on June 11 at 3:00 PM ET. The host nation plays in Group A with South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia.
United Kingdom Broadcasting
BBC and ITV split all 104 UK matches equally. Both channels are free to air, with no separate subscription. Both simulcast the Final on July 19.
ITV opened the tournament with Mexico vs South Africa on June 11. The channel airs 29 Group Stage matches including England vs Croatia on June 17 and England vs Panama on June 27. ITV also covers Scotland vs Morocco on June 19.
BBC airs England vs Ghana on June 23. The broadcaster also takes England’s Round of 32, Round of 16, and Semi-Final games. BBC covers Scotland’s group matches against Haiti and Brazil. BBC Radio 5 Live carries audio commentary throughout the tournament.
UK viewers stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX, and Scottish viewers can also use STV Player. Watching live television in the UK, on any channel or service, and using BBC iPlayer at all, requires a TV Licence, which costs £180 a year. On-demand catch-up on ITVX does not require a licence, but BBC iPlayer does, even for catch-up.
Australia and New Zealand Broadcasting
SBS holds the Australian rights and airs all 104 matches live and free on SBS, SBS Viceland, and SBS On Demand. The broadcaster has been the home of World Cup football in Australia since 1986, and no subscription is needed. Seven Network and Optus Sport, which held the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup rights, do not hold rights to the 2026 Men’s tournament.
TVNZ holds the New Zealand rights and launched a paid streaming product alongside its free coverage for the first time at a major event. TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ carry 22 free matches, including every All Whites group stage match against Iran, Egypt, and Belgium, plus the opening match, two more group games, two Round of 16 matches, one quarter-final, one semi-final, and the Final.
The TVNZ+ Event Pass, a NZ$44.95 one-off payment, unlocks all 104 matches live and on demand. Coverage is HD only, with no 4K. The All Whites play in Group G and qualified through the OFC playoffs.
Major European Markets
Most European broadcasters split rights between a free public broadcaster and a paid sports platform.
| Country | Free Coverage | Paid Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | ARD and ZDF (60 matches) | Magenta Sport (all 104 in 4K) |
| France | M6 (54 matches including all France games) | beIN Sports |
| Spain | RTVE (Spain games plus key matches) | Mediapro and DAZN (all 104) |
| Italy | RAI (free matches including the final) | DAZN (all 104) |
| Netherlands | NOS (all 104) | None |
| Belgium | VRT and RTBF (all 104) | None |
| Portugal | None | Sport TV and LiveModeTV |
| Poland | TVP (all 104) | None |
| Türkiye | TRT (all 104) | None |
Stream M6 matches free on 6play. Stream RAI matches free on RaiPlay. Stream RTVE matches free on RTVE Play. The Netherlands streams free on NPO Start. Magenta Sport in Germany offers a multi-match conference mode during the Group Stage.
Smaller European markets get coverage through neighboring country broadcasters. That includes Andorra, Luxembourg, San Marino, Vatican City, and Liechtenstein. Switzerland uses SRG SSR across all language regions. Arena Sport covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia under one Balkan deal.
Nordic countries share coverage between public and commercial free-to-air broadcasters. Denmark has DR and TV2. Finland has Yle and MTV3. Norway has NRK and TV2. Sweden has SVT and TV4.
Middle East and North Africa
beIN Sports holds the rights across the entire MENA region. The deal covers 24 countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, South Sudan, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros, and Western Sahara.
Both Arabic and English commentary are available. The beIN CONNECT app streams all 104 matches on mobile devices. A beIN Sports subscription is needed.
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Sub-Saharan Africa rights structure changed for 2026. New World TV holds the primary regional rights, taking over from SuperSport, which then sub-licensed coverage from New World TV. A record 10 African nations qualified for 2026, the most ever, and South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010.
South Africa has the most layered coverage in the region. SABC carries all matches free-to-air on SABC 1, SABC 3, SABC Sport, and the SABC Plus app, sub-licensed from New World TV with sponsorship from Hollywoodbets.
SuperSport carries all 104 matches on DStv and GOtv pay-TV from the R99 per month Access package, the first time DStv has put a marquee global tournament in its entry-level tier. SportyTV streams all 104 matches with a SportyBet account. SuperSport broadcasts in seven African languages but not in 4K, freeing budget for localization across 26 sub-Saharan markets.
Asia Pacific Region
| Country | Broadcaster Setup |
|---|---|
| China | CMG (CCTV) free-to-air and pay TV in 4K/8K; Migu and Xiaohongshu (RedNote) handle digital |
| Japan | Dentsu sub-licensed to DAZN (all 104 streaming), NHK (33 terrestrial matches incl. all Japan games + all 104 on NHK BS Premium 4K), Nippon TV (15 matches), Fuji TV (10 matches) |
| South Korea | JTBC and KBS (TV), NAVER Sports and CHZZK (digital) |
| Taiwan | ELTA Sports (cable), Hami Video (IPTV), EBC, TTV |
| Indonesia | TVRI (TV), RRI (radio) |
| Vietnam | VTV (Vietnam Television), exclusive rights |
| Philippines | Aleph Group |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Malaysia | RTM (free-to-air) and Unifi TV (IPTV) |
China Media Group, the parent of state broadcaster CCTV, confirmed its FIFA deal on May 15, 2026. CMG holds free-to-air, pay TV, streaming, and mobile rights for mainland China in 4K and 8K. China Mobile’s Migu and the social platform Xiaohongshu, known as RedNote, handle digital distribution. The deal also covers the 2030 World Cup and the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
Central Asian countries get free coverage. Kazakhstan has QAZTRK. Kyrgyzstan has KTRK. Tajikistan has Varzish TV and TV Football. Turkmenistan has Turkmenistan Sport. Uzbekistan has Zo’r TV.
South Asia Broadcasting
India is covered by Zee through Unite8 Sports and Zee5. Bangladesh has BTV, Somoy TV, and T Sports, with Toffee and Bioscope+ streaming. Pakistan has PTV Sports and Tapmad. Sri Lanka has SLT-Mobitel PEO TV.
All four major South Asian markets confirmed broadcasters in the final weeks before kickoff. The region had been the largest remaining coverage gap heading into the tournament.
India Broadcasting
Zee Entertainment holds the Indian rights. The agreement with FIFA covers the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and a wider slate of FIFA tournaments through 2034. Reports valued the deal at over $40 million, less than half FIFA’s original asking price and below the roughly $60 million Viacom18 paid for the 2022 tournament.
Television coverage airs on Zee’s newly launched Unite8 Sports channels. Hindi commentary airs on Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD. English coverage airs on Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. On busy matchdays with back-to-back fixtures, some matches may also air on Zee Cinema. Regional feeds include Zee Bangla Sonar for Bangla commentary and Zee Keralam for Malayalam.
Streaming runs through the Zee5 app, which carries all 104 matches. Unite8 Sports channel packs start at ₹7 per month before taxes for the standard-definition feed.
Because of the North American kickoff times, roughly two-thirds of the 104 matches fall in overnight slots in India.
Bangladesh Broadcasting
A consortium of three channels acquired the Bangladesh rights directly from FIFA after the original rights holder, Singapore-based Springbok, withdrew. State broadcaster BTV provides free coverage. Somoy TV and T Sports provide additional television coverage. BTV is understood to carry no financial cost, with the satellite channels and telecom operators bearing the broadcasting expense.
Streaming is split between two telecom platforms. Toffee, the OTT service from Banglalink, carries all 104 matches. Bioscope+, the platform from Grameenphone, also streams every match, with availability through the MyGP and Skitto apps.
Pakistan Broadcasting
Tapmad secured the exclusive Pakistan rights and streams all 104 matches live in HD on its digital platform. PTV Sports provides television coverage. Tapmad’s feed includes interactive features such as live match timelines, lineups, statistics, minute-by-minute updates, and a multi-stream split-screen viewing mode on its TV app. Subscriptions are available through local payment methods including Easypaisa and JazzCash.
Sri Lanka Broadcasting
SLT-Mobitel PEO TV holds the exclusive Sri Lanka rights and carries every match live in High Definition. Coverage is available through PEO TV, the PEO MOBILE app, and SLT-Mobitel digital platforms.
Latin America Broadcasting
Brazil has the richest broadcast lineup in the region. Grupo Globo leads primary coverage. CazéTV streams the entire tournament free on YouTube. SBT and N Sports provide extra free coverage.
Other South American broadcasters:
- Argentina: Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports
- Colombia: Caracol TV, Canal RCN, Win Sports
- Chile: Chilevisión
- Peru: América Televisión
- Ecuador: Teleamazonas
DSports holds regional pay-TV rights across most of South America. The deal excludes Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Most Central American countries get free over-the-air coverage. DSports also covers Caribbean territories through the DGO app.
TikTok and YouTube as Preferred Platforms
FIFA named two social platforms as Preferred Platforms for the first time at a men’s World Cup. TikTok signed on January 8, 2026 as FIFA’s first-ever Preferred Platform, hosting a dedicated World Cup hub powered by TikTok GamePlan where official broadcasters can live-stream parts of matches, plus a creator program with access to press conferences and training.
YouTube followed on March 17, 2026, letting official broadcasters live-stream the first 10 minutes of every match, and select full matches, on their channels. The YouTube deal also opens FIFA’s Digital Archive and powers CazéTV’s free streaming of every match in Brazil.
These social platform deals do not replace traditional broadcasters. Full match coverage in any country still depends on the broadcaster table above.
Special Broadcasting Markets
Sport24 covers all 104 matches for international in-flight and cruise ship audiences. The service reaches more than 600 aircraft and 100 cruise ships worldwide. Airlines that carry Sport24 include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines, and Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines also carry the channel. See the full guide to watching the World Cup 2026 on planes and cruise ships.
For the few small territories without a local rights holder, and for fans traveling abroad, several legal options work in most places. FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com is the official global backup, carrying replays, highlights, and selected live content in markets without a confirmed broadcaster.
Official broadcaster YouTube channels post the first 10 minutes of every match plus highlights within hours of full time, and BBC Radio 5 Live streams English audio commentary worldwide through BBC Sounds with no geo-restriction.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 TV channels reach audiences in every major market, with free-to-air coverage the default across much of the world and paid platforms filling the rest. The broadcaster table above is the fastest way to find the right channel or app in any country.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasting FAQ
Do I need a VPN to watch the World Cup 2026 abroad?
A VPN is only needed to reach a home broadcaster while traveling outside its licensed territory, because most broadcaster apps block viewers abroad. Inside a country with its own coverage, no VPN is required. Anyone using one should choose a reputable paid service and check the local laws of the country they are in.
Is the World Cup 2026 on Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime?
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video do not carry live World Cup 2026 matches in any market. Disney+ Premium streams national team matches in parts of South America through ESPN, including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. In most countries, live coverage runs through a local broadcaster or its streaming app rather than a global service.
What channel is the World Cup 2026 final on?
The final takes place on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It airs free on FOX in the United States, on BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom, on TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca in Mexico, and on SBS in Australia. RAI in Italy, RTVE in Spain, and ARD or ZDF in Germany also carry it free.
Will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be available in 4K?
Yes, in several markets. FOX One streams every match in 4K in the United States, and Magenta Sport does the same in Germany. NHK BS Premium 4K covers Japan, Now TV covers Hong Kong, and CMG broadcasts in 4K and 8K in China. Elsewhere, 4K depends on the local broadcaster, and some, including SuperSport and TVNZ, are HD only.
What time do World Cup 2026 matches kick off?
Match times follow North American windows, so kickoffs mostly land in the afternoon and evening across the Americas, late evening in Europe, and overnight or early morning across Asia. In India, for example, most matches start after 10 pm IST. Full kickoff times by date appear on the World Cup 2026 schedule.
What languages is the World Cup 2026 broadcast in?
Coverage spans dozens of languages worldwide. FOX carries English and Telemundo carries Spanish in the United States. beIN Sports offers Arabic and English across the Middle East and North Africa. Many broadcasters add regional feeds, such as Hindi, Bangla, and Malayalam in India, and SuperSport carries several African languages.
How much does it cost to watch the World Cup 2026?
Cost depends on the country. In the United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil, every match is free. Elsewhere coverage often splits between free and paid: Mexico shows 32 matches free but needs paid ViX for the other 72. Where coverage is paid, prices range widely. FOX One is $19.99 a month and Peacock $10.99 a month in the United States, while New Zealand’s TVNZ+ Event Pass is a one-off NZ$44.95 for all 104 matches.
Why did some countries almost miss out on a World Cup 2026 broadcaster?
FIFA sells rights country by country, and a few large markets stayed unsold until the final weeks. The tournament’s North American time zones pushed many matches into overnight slots in Asia, which weakened advertising value. Leading Indian bidders walked away before Zee signed, and Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka confirmed broadcasters only days before kickoff.
