Pay-TV operator Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd has confirmed it will not be the primary broadcaster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, ending its 20-year streak as the official tournament broadcaster in Malaysia.
In a statement on Wednesday, Astro said its “fair and competitive bid” for the broadcasting rights was not accepted by FIFA.
However, the company said it is currently in discussions with the new rights holders to explore opportunities for World Cup matches to still be shown across its platforms, including Astro, NJOI and its OTT streaming service Sooka.
Astro said this could help extend coverage and accessibility to more Malaysians, including viewers at home, in commercial venues and on mobile devices.
Earlier, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that RTM and Unifi TV have secured the official broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Malaysia. The matches will also be available via MyTV, RTM Klik and Unifi TV’s OTT platforms.
Commenting on its unsuccessful bid, Astro said the sports broadcasting landscape has changed significantly due to rising costs, inflation, piracy and shifting commercial returns.
The company said escalating international sports rights fees have made it more difficult to justify investment levels, while piracy has reduced the value of premium content across legitimate platforms.
Astro also noted that previous World Cups in 2018 and 2022 were widely pirated in Malaysia, which impacted returns for rights holders.
It added that match timings and limited time for marketing and advertising campaigns had further reduced the commercial viability of securing the rights at higher costs.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will kick off in Mexico City on June 11, with the final scheduled in New Jersey on July 19.
