Bangkok: Keep an eye on today's cabinet meeting as it discusses the urgent agenda item: the deal for broadcasting rights of the 2026 World Cup.
According to Thai News Agency, Anutin Charnvirakul is preparing for a visit to Koh Phangan tomorrow to address concerns regarding nominees for illicit funds. Meanwhile, today's cabinet meeting is set to focus on the critical topic of acquiring broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to visit Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province, to monitor the issue of foreigners conducting businesses through nominees. His recent visit to Phuket highlighted the need to tackle issues involving influential figures and public land encroachment, emphasizing the significance of securing citizens' livelihoods. The government aims to prevent nominees and legal loopholes from threatening public and economic security, especially in economically valuable tourist areas.
Today's cabinet meeting will primarily address the live broadcast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing on the purchase of broadcasting rights. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has emphasized the urgency of this matter, given the World Cup's schedule from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Prime Minister previously noted that despite the government's inability to directly purchase the rights, efforts are underway to seek cooperation from the private sector.
The official price for the broadcasting rights remains undisclosed, but estimates suggest it could reach 1.4 billion baht. The NBTC had originally allocated approximately 600 million baht for this purpose. However, the removal of the World Cup from the "Must Have" regulations by the NBTC might lead to reduced financial support compared to prior instances. Presently, six ASEAN nations have secured broadcasting rights, while Thailand and others continue negotiations.