Cabinet approves BTV's World Cup deal

The Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement on Saturday recommended approval of Bangladesh Television's (BTV) proposal to acquire the all-media broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 directly from FIFA at a cost of Tk 72.71 crore.

The proposal, submitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was discussed at the committee's 25th meeting of 2026, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. FIFA was selected under the Direct Procurement Method as the sole rights holder.

The acquisition will allow state-run BTV to broadcast World Cup matches and related content nationwide. The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first edition featuring 48 teams.