China’s state channel has secured the rights to show the World Cup, according to local media

China Media Group (CMG), the parent organization of China’s national broadcaster, has obtained a broadcast agreement for the World Cup, according to local media reports on Friday, just weeks before the tournament begins.

The Yangtse Evening Post, a publication based in Nanjing, reported on the agreement but did not reveal its value or confirm whether it includes the 2026 and 2030 tournaments.

In past World Cups, such as those in 2018 and 2022, the state broadcaster CCTV obtained rights well ahead of time, launching promotional content and sponsor-driven advertising weeks prior to the kickoff.

CCTV, with its broad presence on television and digital platforms, did not provide a response to a request for comment.

Earlier this month, FIFA announced that it had finalized broadcast agreements in over 175 territories around the globe, while negotiations in China and India were still in progress.

This week, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom visited Beijing and met with Song Kai, the head of the Chinese Football Association. This meeting has sparked speculation that discussions between CMG and FIFA are approaching a resolution.

CCTV has requested that China Mobile’s streaming platform Migu enter into a distribution agreement for the 2026 World Cup, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The source did not have knowledge of the price or the terms of the agreement between CCTV and FIFA. Migu was not available for comment at this time.

In 2018, CCTV sublicensed World Cup streaming rights to Migu and Alibaba’s Youku, marking the first instance of sharing live digital rights with online platforms. For the 2022 tournament in Qatar, CMG expanded its distribution to include Migu, Douyin, and various regional TV stations.