Football association says World Cup broadcasts in Korea to proceed normally after FIFA assurance

The Korea Football Association said Wednesday that the 2026 North America World Cup will be broadcast normally in South Korea.

The KFA told reporters covering the tournament that Japanese media and others had published inaccurate reports about domestic World Cup broadcasting rights, prompting KFA President Chung Mong-gyu to call FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström on Sunday evening to assess the situation directly.

"President Chung requested FIFA's cooperation to ensure Korean football fans can enjoy the World Cup without any issues," the KFA said, adding that FIFA confirmed Wednesday afternoon that South Korea's domestic rights holder would be able to broadcast all remaining matches as scheduled.

As a result, all remaining matches of the 2026 North America World Cup — including South Korea's knockout-stage games under coach Hong Myung-bo — are set to air in Korea as planned.

The controversy was sparked by a report Japan's TBS published Sunday, which claimed that JTBC, the South Korean broadcaster holding domestic World Cup rights, had failed to pay part of its broadcasting fees to FIFA. TBS said JTBC could lose the right to air matches from the round of 32 onward if it did not meet a payment deadline.

TBS added that a JTBC representative had traveled to Switzerland, where FIFA is headquartered, to hold emergency negotiations to preserve the broadcast rights.

As the controversy grew, JTBC issued an official statement confirming it would broadcast all matches through the final of the 2026 North America World Cup without disruption.

With Chung personally stepping in to secure FIFA's cooperation, concerns about a domestic broadcast blackout have been fully put to rest.

The South Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, faces South Africa in its final Group A match at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, at 10 a.m. Thursday. A draw or victory against South Africa would secure South Korea second place in the group on its own merits and a berth in the round of 32.