Lalit Kumar Modi, the influential former IPL chairman, has sparked a major debate with his explosive tweet criticizing FIFA’s handling of the 2026 FIFA World Cup media rights and ticket pricing. In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi warned that the upcoming tournament is “doomed” due to what he calls unrealistic pricing and poor decision-making by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

This criticism comes at a critical time. As of April 9, 2026—just months before the World Cup kicks off in the USA, Canada, and Mexico—FIFA’s broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent remain unsold even after a huge price reduction.

What Did Lalit Kumar Modi Say?

On April 9, 2026, Lalit Modi shared his candid advice to a prospective bidder who approached his family in February 2026. He wrote:

“I told a prospective bidder who approached one my family members when he asked my advise in February this year – It’s best worth 5 million dollars as far as Indian media rights are concerned. But if you have money to burn 🔥- then go for it. Guess @FIFAcom @FIFAWorldCup Boss @gianniinfantino will learn the hard way. This coming World Cup is doomed – look at the absurd unheard of ticket pricing. Completely ignoring FANS of the football ⚽️ globally to please one and only one person – Guess who 😂😂😂🤬🤬🤬🤬”

Modi’s tweet directly references FIFA’s aggressive pricing strategy and accuses the organization of sidelining global football fans to favor a single influential figure. The post quickly gained traction, with over 81,000 views within hours.

FIFA Slashes India Media Rights Price – Still No Buyers

According to a detailed report, FIFA originally demanded $100 million for the combined media rights (2026 and 2030 World Cups) in the Indian subcontinent when the tender was released in July 2025. Facing zero interest from broadcasters and streaming platforms, FIFA made a hefty price cut to around $35 million. Despite this nearly 65% reduction, no bids have come in, and no Indian broadcaster has stepped forward.

For context:

  • In 2022, Viacom18 paid a record $62 million just for digital rights of the single World Cup in India.
  • Sony Sports Network held linear TV rights for the 2014 and 2018 editions.
  • The Indian Super League (ISL) media rights have also crashed from over ₹200 crore per year to just ₹8 crore in the latest cycle.

This sharp decline highlights a broader slump in the commercial value of football broadcasting in India, despite strong grassroots interest in the sport.

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TOPICS: Lalit Kumar Modi